The Rochester Dickens Festival will go ahead despite rain and gale force winds.

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for several parts of the UK, including south-east England. Gusts of up to 60mph are expected.

Charles Powell, Met Office forecaster, said: “A good deal of wet and
windy weather is the best way to describe it. We’ve got a fairly intense area of low pressure moving up at the moment. It’s already moved across parts of Devon and Cornwall.”

The high winds have already lead to travel disruptions including problems on the roads and rail services.

There was slow traffic on the A2 Londonbound after debris was blown onto the road between the exits for Gravesend and Bluewater. Trains from Dover were also affected because the line was blocked.

All ferries out of Dover are also running with delays.

Mr Powell continued: “The advice is to only make journeys if they are necessary and drive to the conditions set down by the weather but also
stay on track with the warnings issued by the Met Office.”

It comes after one of the wettest Aprils on record and several downpours over the jubilee weekend.

The weather is now expected to remain unsettled throughout the weekend, although winds are expected to lessen.

The Rochester Dickens Festival is still going ahead as planned today, tomorrow and Sunday - despite the wind causing problmes for some of the tents being set up in the The Vines park.

Medway Council events manager Vern Sanderson said some of the street acts have been moved to more sheltered locations and signs have been weighed down with sandbags.

Mr Powell concluded: “We’re still going to see a bit of a breeze and
maybe some rain from time to time, but not as severe or strong as
today. Saturday should be mainly dry with some light winds.”

The sun may also be set for a return - some periods of prolonged, warm
weather have been predicted for the end of the month.