CHESHIRE residents are being warned to expect heavy and persistent rain downpours later this working week through Storm Babet.

The Met Office has issued a ‘danger to life’ yellow warning for north west England for rain.

This will come into effect from 6pm tomorrow evening, Thursday, and it will remain in force through to 6am on Saturday morning.

Forecasters say a further spell of persistent and at times heavy rain could lead to some disruption, with delays or cancellations to train and bus services possible and spray and flooding leading to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.

Fast-flowing or deep floodwater is also possible, the Met Office says, causing a ‘danger to life’, while homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage.

In addition, power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses are possible.

A Met Office spokesman said: “Having pushed north across the warning area early on Thursday, a band of heavy and persistent rain is expected to slowly edge back southwards across northern England later on Thursday, lasting into Saturday in some areas.

“Around 20 to 40mm is expected to fall quite widely, though some parts of the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales could pick up 50 to 70mm.

“The north of the warning area, especially the higher parts of the north Pennines and Cheviots may locally see in excess of 100mm of rain through the period.

“Strong easterly winds may exacerbate the impacts brought about by the heavy rain.”