Thunderstorm warnings have been issued for large parts of England and Wales over the next two days – bringing the threat of frequent lightning and large hail.

The first Met Office warning, which is in effect from 12pm until 8pm on Friday, stretches from the West Midlands to the South East and includes the South West. It also covers a large part of Wales, including Cardiff and Swansea.

The weather agency says lightning strikes during the storms will probably cause damage to buildings.

And with the possibility of up to 40mm (1.5in) of rain in three hours, it said driving may be affected by spray, standing water and/or hail. Power cuts are also likely, it added, with delays to trains possible.

“A few thundery showers may be present across southern and southeast England early on Friday, but from the middle of the day they are expected to develop more widely within the warning area,” the Met Office said.

“Whilst some places will remain dry, where thundery showers do occur, they will bring frequent lightning, gusty winds, potentially some large hail, as well as brief spells of heavy rain.”

It added that there was “a very small chance of 30-40mm falling in three hours” across South West England.

Saturday’s warning is in place for 23 hours, from 1am until midnight, and applies to an even larger area – covering the whole of Wales, and stretching as far as Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Leicester and all of Cornwall.

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The Met Office says thunderstorms and heavy showers are expected to cause disruption.

“Hail and frequent lightning may accompany the most intense storms, especially during Saturday afternoon and evening in parts of the Midlands, southern England and east Wales,” the Met Office said.

Officials say there is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded rapidly, with fast flowing or deep floodwater causing “danger to life”.

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They also warned there was a small chance some communities become cut off by flooded roads, with possible power cuts and cancellations to train and bus services.

A man who murdered his love rival in a ferocious knife attack at a petrol station forecourt has been jailed for life.

Haseeb Majid inflicted up to 16 wounds on Mohammed Duraab Khan in just 13 seconds in a “brutal” attack with a zombie-style knife at a Texaco garage in Nottingham in January.

Majid, 22, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 26 years on Thursday following a three-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court.

The jury rejected Majid’s case that he acted in self defence because he “feared violence” from Mr Khan, who had “threatened” Majid in phone calls and by vandalising his car in the weeks leading up to the attack.

Jurors heard there was “bad blood” between the pair after Mr Khan, 26, had become reacquainted with Majid’s ex-girlfriend.

On the evening of the murder, Majid followed Mr Khan, who was a passenger in a black Audi, to the petrol station forecourt on Meadow Lane in the south of the city, and walked up to the car wearing a balaclava.

Majid, who lived nearby in Wilford Crescent in The Meadows, told the court he only planned to use the knife to “scare” Mr Khan but, after the victim hit him on the wrist with a steering lock, he “lost control” and began stabbing him.

Majid inflicted up to 16 wounds in 13 seconds to Mr Khan’s left arm, left leg, torso, and back, including wounds that penetrated his internal organs.

Mr Khan died from his injuries a short time after paramedics arrived at the scene.

Police did not recover the weapon or balaclava when Majid was arrested.

Prosecution barrister Michael Burrows KC told the court that Majid had acted with “brutal, lethal force” and clearly didn’t want to just scare Mr Khan as he covered his face and kept the knife hidden until the last moment.

Mark Heywood KC, defending Majid, said that there was a “mounting, escalating series of physical threats to Mr Majid” and thought there was a threat to his family.

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The court heard a statement from Mr Khan’s father, Sarfraz Khan, in which he called his son “a remarkable person” and a “kind soul”, adding the family is “shattered” without him.

Mr Khan’s twin sister, Arshah Khan, said in a statement: “I’m just left as one half of a twin. I cannot fathom that he will not be a part of my future.”

A professional footballer was arrested in Scotland on suspicion of orchestrating the attempted import of £600,000 worth of cannabis from Thailand through Stansted Airport.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, was detained by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers in Gourock, Inverclyde, on Wednesday morning in an operation supported by Police Scotland.

Emmanuel-Thomas currently plays for Greenock Morton in the Scottish Championship.

London-born, he started his career at Arsenal and went on to play for various clubs, including Ipswich Town, Bristol City, QPR, Livingston and Aberdeen.

Following his arrest, Emmanuel-Thomas was moved to Carlisle for questioning and has since been charged.

He appeared before Carlisle Magistrates’ Court later on Thursday, where he made no plea to the charge of importing Class B drugs.

The footballer was remanded in custody ahead of his next court appearance, currently scheduled to be held at Carlisle Crown Court on 18 October.

The NCA said the drugs were seized at the London airport on 2 September, with two women arrested and charged.

Border Force officers were said to have found 60kg of cannabis in two suitcases which had arrived on a flight from Bangkok.

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The women charged, aged 28 and 32, appeared before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court and were bailed ahead of their next appearance at Chelmsford Crown Court on 1 October.

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The NCA said the amount of cannabis seized so far in 2024 is already over three times more than the whole of 2023.

David Phillips, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “The NCA continues to work with partners like Border Force to target those involved in drug smuggling – that includes both the couriers and the organisers.

“We would appeal to anyone who is approached to engage in any kind of smuggling to think very carefully about the likely consequences of their actions, and the potentially life-changing risks they will be taking.”

A spokesperson for Greenock Morton said the club was aware of an “ongoing situation” but declined to comment.