A WEATHER warning has been issued for Wiltshire on Wednesday as more than 1.5 inches of rain could fall with gales sweeping across southern England.

The Met Office said today: "An area of rain will move southeastwards across southern England during Wednesday.

"Some locally heavy rainfall is possible and with this falling on saturated ground some localised flooding is possible. Southwesterly gales are likely along south coasts for a time.

"Please be aware of the potential for local disruption to travel from flooding and some difficult driving conditions."

The chief forecaster said: "A frontal zone will move southeastwards across southern England through Wednesday before clearing away later in the day. This will bring some persistent rain to many areas, and as it clears, some locally intense rainfall is possible.

"Accumulations of 20mm are expected fairly widely with locally 40mm possible in some spots, although some places will miss the worst of the rain.

"There remains some uncertainty regarding the timing of the heaviest rain and so this warning will be kept under review."

The yellow rain warning applies to Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth, Bristol, Devon, Dorset, North Somerset, Poole, Somerset and South Gloucestershire from 3am on Wednesday until 6pm.