Margate's beach was not only filled with sand today as a freak hailstorm hit the east Kent area, covering it with ice.

It happened just after midday, with weather forecasters tweeting a picture of the remains scattered across the beach that only weeks ago was bustling with sunbathers.

Facebookers were quick to share the news, with one person posting just an hour later that the sun had appeared.

Margate business Fox and Spindle also tweeted a picture of the ice that was strewn across the seafront.

The King Street shop said: "Yep that's ice from the hail. Margate you unpredictable beast!"

The people of Kent had been pre-warned that showers and thunderstorms were expected this soggy Saturday.

The Met Office said rain will often be heavy, with a risk of hail, lightning and gusty winds - causing potentially difficult driving conditions and flooding.

Four teenage girls sheltering from the rain outside Store Twenty One in Sheerness ended up dancing in the street to the music of DJ Barry Goodsell. He had been entertaining shoppers when the heavens opened on Saturday afternoon.

In Folkestone and Ashford the weather has been drizzly, with some sunny spells between the rain.

Showers are set to become less heavy towards evening before clearing after dusk.

Tomorrow is expected to be dry and bright, with sunny spells and highs of 16c.