WINDS in excess of 60mph are likely to hit parts of Sussex, the Met Office has warned.

The weather service has issued a yellow warning for rain which will affect large swathes of the UK on Friday.

But the weather warning for wind on Saturday, which will affect large parts of England, has been heightened in the county.

Heavy showers or thunderstorms, potentially causing disruption, are predicted and the Government's Flood Information Service said flooding is possible in places from now until Saturday.

>> Wind and rain weather warnings for Sussex

Now, the Met Office says that the winds could exceed 60mph.

The statement reads: "Unseasonably strong southwesterly winds are expected to cause some disruption, with gusts over 40 mph quite widely inland.

"Gusts over 50 mph are possible across parts of central and south-eastern England, particularly in association with showers.

"Gusts in excess of 60 mph are likely around coasts of Bristol Channel, English Channel and through the Strait of Dover."

It also outlined the amount of rainfall that could hit the region.

It states: "A band of heavy rain, with the possibility of some very heavy bursts, will move northwards during Thursday night and Friday.

"Within this band 10-15 mm is widely expected, however some places could see as much as 30 mm in just a few hours.

"Once the rain has cleared scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop, particularly during Friday.

"Many places will miss these, but where they do occur 10-20 mm is possible in one hour, with perhaps 30 mm in a few hours."