Torrential rain, thunder and lightning is blighting the first weekend of the school holidays, as thousands set off across the UK for their summer break.

Low levels of radioactive iodine believed to be from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan have been detected in the UK.

A nuclear-powered submarine which ran aground on a shingle bank earlier today has been towed free tonight, the Royal Navy said.

THE operators of two nuclear facilities have each been fined £2 million (€2.97m) over radioactive spillages.

Torrential rain caused flooding chaos throughout Britain today with emergency services stretched to the limit.