THE REMNANTS of a hurricane that has been battering the Caribbean has a 60 per cent chance of hitting the south this weekend, the Met Office has warned.

The last gasps of Hurricane Bertha will come steadily towards the UK over the next few days and is expected to hit the UK from early on Sunday putting a stop to the glorious weather Hampshire has been enjoying in recent weeks.

Forecasters had initially believed that the UK was “likely” to stay out of its path but those predictions have been proved wrong, with severe weather warnings issued across the south east.

The Met Office is warning that strong winds, torrential rain and large waves will batter the region.

The Met Office's chief forecaster, Eddy Carroll, said: “There is still considerable uncertainty surrounding this weekend's weather, with the potential for heavy rainfall and strong coastal winds, along with large waves.

“However, there is a chance that the system may pass to the south of the country, or spread heavy rain even further north. Rain and strong winds may well bring disruption, especially in the south, and people should stay up to date with the latest Met Office warnings.”

The storm is moving away from the western side of the Atlantic, after hitting the Caribbean islands with gusts of more than 90 mph leaving thousands of homes without power.