The UK is set for a deluge of rain in the first half of this week which, combined with strong winds on the southern coast, will dampen the summer holiday spirits of many.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for coastal gales in the south and southwest on Monday, affecting Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, the Bristol Channel and parts of south Wales.

Gusts could exceed 50mph along the coast, and inland gust of up to 45mph were possible, the Met Office said, with the high winds causing possible disruption to motorists towing caravans.

"The reason for the weather warning is really the time of year, " Simon Partridge from the Met Office said. "It's the holidays so we've got a lot of people out with caravans and tents and they'll need to be careful."

The warning is in place until 9 o'clock tonight.

Showers are set to continue following a wet end to the weekend, with little obvious indication of the heatwave predicted for next month by the likes of today's Mirror or the Daily Mail.

A band of rain in the north is moving down the UK, leaving northern Scotland drier by Monday afternoon, but showery northern and eastern England, and southern Scotland.

Strong winds in the south should keep the showers to a minimum.

By Tuesday it is expected to be largely dry in the southern counties, with sunny spells, but it will remain windy.

London should see highs of about 19C or 20C over the week.