Torrential rains and flash floods hit central London on Tuesday, reducing traffic to a crawl on Tower Bridge.
Water gushed across the famous bridge, a major tourist attraction but also a vital artery linking the City and the south bank.
It led many on social media to suggest that the bridge should be cleared by being raised in the same way it does to let boats pass.
Cars ploughed through floodwater beneath a blanket of clouds on Tuesday morning and heavy downpours continued throughout the day, signalling the end of summertime.
The Met Office issued a yellow warning for rain which could cause flooding in central and eastern areas of England until midnight on Tuesday.
Much of the UK basked in sweltering sunshine at the start of the month, including Wales which experienced its warmest September night on record, while temperatures in Scotland reached the highest since 1906.
Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said there was a low risk of thunderstorms to follow.
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Motorists drive through rainwater on a flooded Tower Bridge road in London. AFP -
Traffic builds up on Tower Bridge Road. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain, which could cause flooding in central and eastern areas of England until midnight on Tuesday. AFP -
Cars ploughing through floodwater on the north side of Tower Bridge. AFP -
People are caught in the rain as they cross the Millennium Bridge near St Paul's Cathedral, in central London. PA -
A woman has her photograph taken with the London Eye and stormy skies in the background. Getty Images -
People shelter from the rain under umbrellas in central London. PA -
A member of the ground staff walks across the covers as the start of play is delayed due to rain during the County Championship cricket match between Surrey and Essex at The Oval in London. Getty Images -
A man sheltering beneath an umbrella looks out from above the National Covid Memorial Wall in London. Getty Images
