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Two members of ground staff sweep rain off the covers at Wimbledon
Ground staff sweep rain off the covers at Wimbledon on Saturday. Photograph: François Nel/Getty Images
Ground staff sweep rain off the covers at Wimbledon on Saturday. Photograph: François Nel/Getty Images

Heavy rain disrupts Wimbledon and Grand Prix at Silverstone

Tennis and motor racing affected by downpours and flood alerts remain live near two rivers in Hampshire and Gloucestershire

It could be a case of rain stops play for sports fans and revellers alike this weekend with wet weather and even floods forecast.

Wimbledon fans faced a tentative wait to see if their favourites would take to the court after heavy rain delayed proceedings in SW19 on Saturday morning.

The weather also affected the British Grand Prix taking place this weekend at Silverstone.

Saturday morning’s F3 sprint race was postponed and is rescheduled to start at 6pm. Heavy rain stopped in time for F1 qualifying, where the Mercedes duo George Russell and Lewis Hamilton came first and second.

The race is due to go ahead on Sunday at 3pm.

Meanwhile, visitors to the Henley regatta were forced to shelter under umbrellas.

And people watching the classical music stars Andrea Bocelli and Katherine Jenkins in Hyde Park on Friday were soaked.

Flood alerts remain live in areas near two rivers in Hampshire and Gloucestershire because of heavy and sustained rain.

The Environment Agency issued alerts for the upper River Loddon, a tributary of the Thames that rises at Basingstoke, and the River Coln, which rises to the north of Brockhampton.

In Scotland, a flood alert issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency remains live in Aberdeenshire.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for north-east Scotland from 10pm on Friday until 10am Saturday.

The chief meteorologist, Frank Saunders, predicted that a few areas could see as much as 50mm of rain during this 12-hour period.

The good news is that the Met Office has indicated that any showers should clear by around the time the England and Switzerland Euros game kicks off at 5pm on Saturday.

The forecast was for a generally unsettled and cool weekend, with almost all areas expected to see showers – some potentially heavy and thundery – at some point.

Temperatures were expected to be below average for the time of year, but may reach 19C in some areas during sunny spells.

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