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Drivers are being hit with a Met Office warning over what is often called blood rain, that's set to hit the UK this week.

A Saharan dust cloud is set to drift across the UK in the next few days, causing a 'double whammy' of problems for British drivers.

The sand plume, originating from North Africa, is making its way across Spain and France before it reaches the UK.

The Met Office said the blood rain could arrive today (Thursday, March 5) with 'additional dust pulses' by the end of the week.

It said: "There is no need for concern from a health perspective for the levels currently expected over the UK. Those with respiratory sensitivities may notice a slight increase in airborne particulates before rainfall clears the atmosphere, but concentrations should remain well below levels associated with airquality alerts.

"If you're planning to wash your car, waiting until the end of the week may be wise, as additional dust pulses could reach the UK before conditions settle.

Now, Graham Conway from Select Car Leasing is urging drivers not to do serious damage to their cars if they wake up to a covering of 'blood rain'.

He said: "The fine Saharan dust leaves a very distinctive residue on your car or van, which you'll want to clean off right away.

"But it's important to take a few things into consideration before you do, or you'll be left with scratches to your paintwork that will be very tricky and expensive to rectify.

"First, don't run your finger through the sand or be tempted to write your name in it. That's because sand particles are very abrasive and will cause fine scratches.

"Before taking a sponge to your dusty motor, remove as much of the debris as you can. If you have a pressure washer with a foam attachment, this is ideal for removing it.

"Next you should drench it with plenty of water to rinse all of this off, then use a specialist car shampoo to remove the remaining residue and polish up any scratches you can see."

He added: "The cabin air filter works to clean the air that comes in through the vents. It forms a barrier to collect all sorts of nasties before they have a chance to make their way to your respiratory system - including dust, bacteria and fungal spores.

"But with all the extra dust particles in the atmosphere at the moment, it could easily become clogged and damage the air conditioning system.

"A new filter only costs around £10 and is easy to replace - but make sure you get it checked regularly, especially when these types of rare weather phenomena occur."

The final warning comes over the engine filter. This can be badly affected by lots of fine dust and could then reduce the amount of air getting into the engine - leading to an increase in unburnt fuel.

Mr Conway said: "This situation creates more soot residue, which can build up on spark plugs affecting their performance. The result of this is your car jerking and the engine misfiring.

"Over time, dirt will enter the engine and damage expensive parts such as piston rings, valves and the cylinder wall.

"So getting the engine air filter checked would certainly be a good idea in order to avoid an expensive repair bill down the line."