Beaches were left empty today, just a week after a week of scorching sun saw Britons bask in the 29C sun.

The expanse of sand was now devoid of sun seekers after a thunderstorm – rain is expected to continue through the end of the week.

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Parts of the UK were drenched with low temperatures and incessant torrential rain throughout the weekend, bringing the week to an end.

But some racing enthusiasts didn’t stop, donning waterproof ponchos on their finery on Saturday for the final day of Royal Ascot.

And football fans soaked themselves as England faced Scotland at the Euros on Friday night – which was just a taste of what the rest of the weekend was going to bring.

As next week draws to a close, the weather was looking a little dry – although the heat doesn’t seem to have fully returned yet.

Netweather forecasters said: “After heavy rain in the east and south yesterday, summer is definitely on hiatus now.”

Parts of the UK are expected to remain cloudy today, with heavy rains continuing throughout the day in some parts.

The weather will be particularly humid in the north of Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as over the east of England.

Meteorological Department meteorologist Dan Stroud said that with tomorrow being the longest day of the year, temperatures in much of England will only be in the mid teens, below average for the time of year as well as humid and drizzling.

We should not expect temperatures above 20 degrees even for the rest of the week, with “light and incessant rain”, he added.

Monday will be our warmest day, with about 5-15 mm of rainfall expected in the south, reaching 20 mm in places.

A high pressure from the north and west over parts of northern Scotland and northern England means they will remain slightly dry.

But we will see a gradual improvement over the course of the week, with the rain dissipating on the mainland on Wednesday, a “beautiful day” in our twenties, the best day of the week in our twenties from 20C to 22C.

Over the weekend and beyond, rain over Scotland and the North Island will continue for the rest of the week, meaning more drizzle and intermittent rain and milder temperatures should remain within forecast.

But Dan Stroud assures us that we will definitely see a “drying period” in the coming weeks.

UK weather – Britain reeling under more rain with thunderstorms as forecasters warn ‘heat continues’