Arctic winds and biting rain blast Newmarket racegoers

Shoppers were sent jumping out of the way as a huge tree fell in strong winds on Soho Square in the centre of London as gusts came in from the North Sea earlier today. A tree fall that squashed a van has blocked off Soho Square in central London, as strong winds hit the country and the capital faces hail, showers and wind This woman was left holding on to her hat as arctic winders battered the Newmarket racecourse today Others struggled to control their umbrellas as rain fell during day one of the QIPCO Guineas festival Temperatures reached just 9C as winds of up to 30mph hit the area today Elsewhere, an inch of snow couldn't stop the Shepherd family from Dornoch eating their breakfast outside at a campsite near Aviemore today Wendy Stewart and Marilyn Hemingway went out for a run in the snow near Aviemore with dogs Chunk and Rowan Speaking about the forecast for Scotland, Grahame Madge of the Met Office said: 'It will feel very cold at the weekend, especially after the great weather we enjoyed at Easter.' Pictured: the Inverness to Edinburgh citylink bus near Inverness Waves crashed over the sea wall at Tynemouth earlier today as Brits prepared for a chilly Bank Holiday weekend Pictured: People braving the rain to go punting on the River Cam in Cambridge Sunday is set to be dry except for showers in the North East, continuing into Monday. Andy Page, Met Office chief meteorologist, said: 'After cold, frosty starts and cool days for many across the Bank Holiday weekend, daytime temperatures will gradually recover early next week. The coming weekend is a stark contrast to last year, when May Bank Holiday beaches across Britain were packed thanks to fine weather Tourists didn't let the wet weather in Cambridge stop them from going punting on the River Cam People watch others surfing in the Caravan and Motorhome Club English National Surfing Championships held at Perranporth, Cornwall This group of tourists huddled under umbrellas on the River Cam in Cambridge earlier today Huge waves pound Seaham lighthouse on the North East coastline as cold weather beckons for the bank holiday weekend People out punting on the river Cam in Cambridge today get caught in one of the rain showers In the North East of England, a maximum of 9C is likely today, rising to 10C on Sunday.