SURFACE water is causing problems on one of Hampshire’s busiest roads.

Drivers are having to cope with huge puddles on the A31 eastbound between Ringwood and the M27 at Cadnam as a band of heavy rain sets in.

A weather warning has been extended until midnight tomorrow, with forecasters warning rain will be even heavier than initially expected.

The warning, updated at lunchtime, says: "Persistent rain will spread into south west England during Thursday, turning heavy at times and extending further north and east on Thursday night and into Friday.

"Brighter, showery conditions will return from the southwest later on Friday. The public should be aware that some minor flooding impacts from rivers and surface water are expected.

"An active frontal system, struggling to bring milder air into the south of the country, is expected to bring 20-30 mm of rainfall quite widely, and possibly as much as 50-60 mm in a few locations on high ground exposed to the strong southeasterly winds.

"These accumulations are expected to result in some river or surface water flooding."

The heavy rain is forecast to last most of the day tomorrow, with a temporary break at lunchtime.

Up to an inch of rain is forecast to fall today across the county and another half an inch tomorrow. Winds could reach up to 43mph.