High tides and strong winds were expected to cause large waves and spray in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, later on Tuesday.

Flood warnings were issued, where flooding was “expected”, for Sandside and Foreshore Road around late afternoon and early evening.

The warning urged people to stay away “from beaches, promenades, coastal footpaths and roads in Scarborough as large waves and sea spray could be dangerous”.

The situation was expected to ease once the high tide has passed and the weather settles.

Poole Quay’s iconic Bathtub Race is one of the latest events to be cancelled due to heavy swells and gale force winds expected over New Year’s Eve.

The wacky race, which has run for 40 years, usually sees dozens in fancy dress and imaginative boat designs paddle to raise money for charity.

But a spokesperson for the event said: “It is with a broken heart that I have to report after the latest set of weather forecasts for New Year’s Day and along with advice from the Poole Quay Harbour Master it has been decreed unsafe for not only the Bathtub Race but the classic car and vintage vehicle event due to heavy rain and gale force winds.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan appears to say the fireworks display will go ahead as he urges people to watch along from home promising “an exciting new element”.

There were fears the event would be cancelled with thousands expected to flock to Big Ben despite 41mph winds.

But Mr Khan, posted on X: “Tickets for the New Year’s Eve fireworks are sold out.

“Watch the magic live from home. Anyone tuning into BBC One will be able to see an exciting new element of the fireworks show.”

There are currently no plans to cancel any New Year’s Eve events in London, but a spokesperson for the mayor confirmed local authorities were continuing “to monitor the weather forecast closely”.

The clock is ticking as thousands are expected to flock to Big Ben with only a few tickets left on the Ticketmaster resale.

Gusts of wind are expected to reach up to 41mph in the runup to midnight in the capital.

Delays to all types of transport are “likely” as strong winds persist and may reach speeds of up to 70mph in England and Northern Ireland, the Met Office has warned.

The A66 is closed to “high sided and vulnerable vehicles” because of strong winds, National Highways says.

The closure affects the section between the M6 in Penrith, Cumbria and the A1M Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire.

Motorists are advised to plan ahead and “consider alternate routes such as the A69”.

Train operator ScotRail said its services are being disrupted by speed restrictions on many routes because of “very heavy rainfall”.

The routes affected are between: Inverness and Perth; Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh; Inverness and Wick; Perth and Stirling; Edinburgh and Inverness; Glasgow Queen Street, Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth; and Glasgow Queen Street, Oban and Mallaig.

Network Rail said it has closed the Highland Main Line at Kingussie because of “more extreme rainfall overnight”.

It also closed the line north of Inverness, between Muir of Ord and Dingwall.

Due to further heavy rain throughout Monday night and Tuesday morning, river levels are rising as Scotland puts 31 areas under flood warnings.

River levels are expected to rise into Tuesday, particularly in the areas of Speyside, the Great Glen, and Tayside, where impacts are most likely to occur.

Three severe warnings have been downgraded as of Tuesday morning.

Britons are bracing for snowfall and a sharp drop in temperatures, which are set to fall to -2C on New Year’s Eve in some places.

A planned fireworks display in Blackpool has been cancelled because of expected high winds, organisers said.

An update on the Visit Blackpool website said: “Due to the forecast of high winds tomorrow evening, we have had to make the tough decision to cancel the fireworks display this year.

“The rest of the New Year’s Eve Family Party will continue as planned, with plenty of fun activities for all the family, including the LeylandHosen Bierkeller Band, who will be performing during the afternoon.

“There will also be children’s rides, themed food and drink cabins, and a free skating rink as part of the festive village. The New Year’s Eve projection show will still go ahead as planned at 6pm.”

At midnight, the projection show that will feature in the family party will be shown on The Blackpool Tower to mark the start of 2025.