Heavy rain and high winds hit the UK - in pictures

Commuters with umbrellas make their way across Millennium bridge in Bristol, where there has been heavy rain and a Met office weather warning issued for south-west England Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA

A cyclist tries to stay dry in Manchester Photograph: Christopher Thomond/for the Guardian

Pedestrians shelter under umbrellas near the Houses of Parliament in London. Forecasters say that over the next 24 hours Britain is to expect winds of up to 60mph in the north of England and south of Scotland, while other areas could see 80mm of rain. The Environment Agency has issued 19 flood warnings and 73 flood alerts in England and Wales Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA

A four-wheel drive emerges from floodwater that has closed a road in Witchurch near Bristol Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA

Gale-force winds drive waves over the coastal road at Sandsend near Whitby Photograph: John Giles/PA

A woman tries to dodge the puddles in Manchester during a downpour Photograph: Christopher Thomond/for the Guardian

Aron Martin, 17, on Marsden beach near South Shields where heavy seas have created foam along the shoreline Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Heavy rain and high winds create an unwelcome start to the new term for students at the University of Manchester Photograph: Christopher Thomond/for the Guardian

Bad hair day: visitors to the Brighton seafront feel the full force of the wind Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

People walk on a groyne next to a stormy sea in Brighton Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images