After months of below-average rainfall, today's downpours have prompted warnings of flash flooding in East Anglia as torrential rain falls on dry ground.

The change in the weather has brought some welcome relief for growers and gardeners, after a 10-month period up to the end of April which was the driest in East Anglia since 1976.

But with more persistent and heavier bursts of rain predicted tonight, rural insurers NFU Mutual said the East of England was one of the highest risk areas for flash flooding, particularly on previously parched land.

Tim Price, NFU Mutual's rural affairs specialist, said: 'Despite the massive amount of technology now used by weather forecasters, it's still difficult to accurately predict the intensity and path of storms – but today's forecast does warrant concern and we recommend homeowners and farmers in flood-prone locations take simple precautions.

'We're particularly concerned because after weeks of unseasonably dry weather, land across the country remains parched which means heavy rain can run-off quickly and cause flash floods.'

Mr Price said the company, which insures more than 70pc of UK farms and thousands of rural homes and businesses, is on standby to launch its emergency claims plan should serious floods occur.