The Met Office forecast warns the North East should expect "heavy rain and strong winds" later this week set to bring cooler temperatures with it.

Following a dry beginning to the week, the region is set to be battered with a significant amount of rainfall beginning on Wednesday into Thursday (May 22 and 23).

Temperatures are set to drop to as low as 12C over the two-day period with the highest likelihood of rain being over 80% on Thursday morning.

This will then change to overcast with plenty of clouds by the evening.

The forecaster says: "Organised heavy rain and strong winds on Wednesday with outbreaks of rain, mainly over high ground, Thursday and Friday.

"Temperatures around average or a little below."

Here's the forecast so far:

Wednesday

7am: 13C with 20% chance of rain

10am: 13C with 40% chance of rain

1pm: 14C with 50% chance of rain

4pm: 13C with 70% chance of rain

7pm: 13C with 80% chance of rain

10pm: 13C with 80% chance of rain

Thursday

7am: 12C with 80% chance of rain

10am: 13C with 80% chance of rain

1pm: 14C with 50% chance of rain

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4pm: 14C with 50% chance of rain

7pm: 13C with 50% chance of rain

10pm: 12C with 20% chance of rain