Heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast for Fairford could affect this weekend's Royal International Air Tattoo.

Huge crowds are expected to attend the RAF military base in Gloucestershire for three days of spectacular aerial displays and fascinating exhibitions, family-friendly activities.

The latest available forecast from BBC Weather suggests that conditions could disrupt the event.

Rain is expected to fall throughout Friday morning and afternoon, becoming heaviest at around 3pm to 6pm, with temperatures ranging from 13C to 18C.

On Saturday, gusty winds of up to 44mph and a high chance of thunderstorms may affect the aircraft's ability to perform feats of flying.

Rain is again expected all day, with the BBC predicting a 50 per cent chance of thunderstorms from 1pm to 2pm and 4pm to 5pm, though The Met Office has also issued a weather warning for wind from 9am to midnight and expects thunderstorms to arrive at around 10am.

The downpours should ease slightly on Sunday, with only a light drizzle forecast along with some cloudy skies before the cover clears and sunshine beams down on Fairford from 6pm.

In 2008, RIAT was cancelled for the first time in 28 years due to unusually high rainfall in the days leading up to the show which saturated the car parks and the showground itself.

This year's RIAT has the theme SKYTANKER23, which will highlight the vital role of air-to-air refuelling in modern military aviation.