Miserable weather hit Bristol on the weekend with 31mm of rain falling over three days, which led to widespread surface flooding.

More than half of sporting fixtures were cancelled with some clubs resorting to playing on Astroturf so their fixtures could go ahead. A number of golf courses were also closed due to water logging. But a PA weather spokesman said the amount of rainfall in the Bristol area was not abnormal for this time of the year and warned that temperatures will now plunge.

The dip in temperatures is expected to see the first frost of the winter. They are likely to drop to -2C (28F) in some rural areas.

However, today should be a dry, bright day after a cloudy start.

But the rain did help to create a bumper sales day at Cabot Circus shopping centre in Bristol over the weekend.

Duty manager Craig Carter said: "I think the weather does have an effect on shopping.

"People realise our shops are semi-enclosed and therefore can move between stores without getting wet."

He said that the German market and other seasonal promotions had helped to draw in the crowds.

Mr Carter said a lot of people get paid at the end of the month and therefore used yesterday to start their Christmas shopping.

Weather forecasters say the cold weather will remain for only a few days before unsettled weather moves in before the weekend with more squally showers.