diff --git a/docs/library/pyb.UART.rst b/docs/library/pyb.UART.rst
index 5fc5b22a5a10917c952430f3a811b2973c5c9d42..536b6f467dad9119b71089d4131de0ae6bab595a 100644
--- a/docs/library/pyb.UART.rst
+++ b/docs/library/pyb.UART.rst
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ using the standard stream methods::
 
     To check if there is anything to be read, use::
 
-        uart.any()               # returns True if any characters waiting
+        uart.any()          # returns the number of characters waiting
+
 
     *Note:* The stream functions ``read``, ``write``, etc. are new in MicroPython v1.3.4.
     Earlier versions use ``uart.send`` and ``uart.recv``.
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ Constructors
        initialised (it has the settings from the last initialisation of
        the bus, if any).  If extra arguments are given, the bus is initialised.
        See ``init`` for parameters of initialisation.
-    
+
        The physical pins of the UART busses are:
     
          - ``UART(4)`` is on ``XA``: ``(TX, RX) = (X1, X2) = (PA0, PA1)``
@@ -66,12 +67,16 @@ Constructors
          - ``UART(3)`` is on ``YB``: ``(TX, RX) = (Y9, Y10) = (PB10, PB11)``
          - ``UART(2)`` is on: ``(TX, RX) = (X3, X4) = (PA2, PA3)``
 
+       The Pyboard Lite supports UART(1), UART(2) and UART(6) only. Pins are as above except:
+
+         - ``UART(2)`` is on: ``(TX, RX) = (X1, X2) = (PA2, PA3)``
+
 Methods
 -------
 
 .. only:: port_pyboard
 
-    .. method:: uart.init(baudrate, bits=8, parity=None, stop=1, \*, timeout=1000, flow=None, timeout_char=0, read_buf_len=64)
+    .. method:: uart.init(baudrate, bits=8, parity=None, stop=1, \*, timeout=1000, flow=0, timeout_char=0, read_buf_len=64)
     
        Initialise the UART bus with the given parameters:
     
@@ -79,7 +84,7 @@ Methods
          - ``bits`` is the number of bits per character, 7, 8 or 9.
          - ``parity`` is the parity, ``None``, 0 (even) or 1 (odd).
          - ``stop`` is the number of stop bits, 1 or 2.
-         - ``flow`` sets the flow control type. Can be None, ``UART.RTS``, ``UART.CTS``
+         - ``flow`` sets the flow control type. Can be 0, ``UART.RTS``, ``UART.CTS``
            or ``UART.RTS | UART.CTS``.
          - ``timeout`` is the timeout in milliseconds to wait for the first character.
          - ``timeout_char`` is the timeout in milliseconds to wait between characters.
@@ -103,16 +108,18 @@ Methods
 
     .. method:: uart.any()
 
-       Returns the number of characters waiting (may be 0).
+       Returns the number of bytes waiting (may be 0).
 
     .. method:: uart.writechar(char)
 
       Write a single character on the bus.  ``char`` is an integer to write.
-      Return value: ``None``.
+      Return value: ``None``. See note below if CTS flow control is used.
 
 .. method:: uart.read([nbytes])
 
    Read characters.  If ``nbytes`` is specified then read at most that many bytes.
+   If ``nbytes`` are available in the buffer, returns immediately, otherwise returns
+   when sufficient characters arrive or the timeout elapses.
 
    .. only:: port_pyboard
 
@@ -124,9 +131,9 @@ Methods
 
 .. method:: uart.readall()
 
-   Read as much data as possible.
+   Read as much data as possible. Returns after the timeout has elapsed.
 
-   Return value: a bytes object or ``None`` on timeout.
+   Return value: a bytes object or ``None`` if timeout prevents any data being read.
 
 .. method:: uart.readchar()
 
@@ -144,9 +151,11 @@ Methods
 
 .. method:: uart.readline()
 
-   Read a line, ending in a newline character.
+   Read a line, ending in a newline character. If such a line exists, return is
+   immediate. If the timeout elapses, all available data is returned regardless
+   of whether a newline exists.
 
-   Return value: the line read or ``None`` on timeout.
+   Return value: the line read or ``None`` on timeout if no data is available.
 
 .. method:: uart.write(buf)
 
@@ -157,7 +166,8 @@ Methods
       bytes are used for each character (little endian), and ``buf`` must contain
       an even number of bytes.
 
-      Return value: number of bytes written or ``None`` on timeout.
+      Return value: number of bytes written. If a timeout occurs and no bytes
+      were written returns ``None``.
 
 .. method:: uart.sendbreak()
 
@@ -173,4 +183,63 @@ Constants
     .. data:: UART.RTS
     .. data:: UART.CTS
 
-       to select the flow control type
+       to select the flow control type.
+
+Flow Control
+------------
+
+.. only:: port_pyboard
+
+    On Pyboards V1 and V1.1 ``UART(2)`` and ``UART(3)`` support RTS/CTS hardware flow control
+    using the following pins:
+
+        - ``UART(2)`` is on: ``(TX, RX, nRTS, nCTS) = (X3, X4, X2, X1) = (PA2, PA3, PA1, PA0)``
+        - ``UART(3)`` is on :``(TX, RX, nRTS, nCTS) = (Y9, Y10, Y7, Y6) = (PB10, PB11, PB14, PB13)``
+
+    On the Pyboard Lite only ``UART(2)`` supports flow control on these pins:
+
+        ``(TX, RX, nRTS, nCTS) = (X1, X2, X4, X3) = (PA2, PA3, PA1, PA0)``
+
+    In the following paragraphs the term "target" refers to the device connected to
+    the UART.
+
+    When the UART's ``init()`` method is called with ``flow`` set to one or both of
+    ``UART.RTS`` and ``UART.CTS`` the relevant flow control pins are configured.
+    ``nRTS`` is an active low output, ``nCTS`` is an active low input with pullup
+    enabled. To achieve flow control the Pyboard's ``nCTS`` signal should be connected
+    to the target's ``nRTS`` and the Pyboard's ``nRTS`` to the target's ``nCTS``.
+
+    CTS: target controls Pyboard transmitter
+    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+    If CTS flow control is enabled the write behaviour is as follows:
+
+    If the Pyboard's ``uart.write(buf)`` method is called, transmission will stall for
+    any periods when ``nCTS`` is ``False``. This will result in a timeout if the entire
+    buffer was not transmitted in the timeout period. The method returns the number of
+    bytes written, enabling the user to write the remainder of the data if required. In
+    the event of a timeout, a character will remain in the UART pending ``nCTS``. The
+    number of bytes composing this character will be included in the return value.
+    
+    If ``uart.writechar()`` is called when ``nCTS`` is ``False`` the method will time
+    out unless the target asserts ``nCTS`` in time. If it times out ``OSError 116``
+    will be raised. The character will be transmitted as soon as the target asserts ``nCTS``.
+
+    RTS: Pyboard controls target's transmitter
+    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+    If RTS flow control is enabled, behaviour is as follows:
+    
+    If buffered input is used (``read_buf_len`` > 0), incoming characters are buffered.
+    If the buffer becomes full, the next character to arrive will cause ``nRTS`` to go
+    ``False``: the target should cease transmission. ``nRTS`` will go ``True`` when
+    characters are read from the buffer.
+    
+    Note that the ``any()`` method returns the number of bytes in the buffer. Assume a
+    buffer length of ``N`` bytes. If the buffer becomes full, and another character arrives,
+    ``nRTS`` will be set False, and ``any()`` will return the count ``N``. When
+    characters are read the additional character will be placed in the buffer and will
+    be included in the result of a subsequent ``any()`` call.
+    
+    If buffered input is not used (``read_buf_len`` == 0) the arrival of a character will
+    cause ``nRTS`` to go ``False`` until the character is read.
diff --git a/stmhal/uart.c b/stmhal/uart.c
index 272b207eb7ee5b66e9adb7644a06b7ee4d48186a..caa4d5600779eb95ee0e94babdff52fdadaaeaa5 100644
--- a/stmhal/uart.c
+++ b/stmhal/uart.c
@@ -320,6 +320,10 @@ int uart_rx_char(pyb_uart_obj_t *self) {
             data = self->read_buf[self->read_buf_tail];
         }
         self->read_buf_tail = (self->read_buf_tail + 1) % self->read_buf_len;
+        if (__HAL_UART_GET_FLAG(&self->uart, UART_FLAG_RXNE) != RESET) {
+            // UART was stalled by flow ctrl: re-enable IRQ now we have room in buffer
+            __HAL_UART_ENABLE_IT(&self->uart, UART_IT_RXNE);
+        }
         return data;
     } else {
         // no buffering
@@ -347,6 +351,11 @@ STATIC bool uart_tx_wait(pyb_uart_obj_t *self, uint32_t timeout) {
 }
 
 STATIC HAL_StatusTypeDef uart_tx_data(pyb_uart_obj_t *self, uint8_t *data, uint16_t len) {
+    if (self->uart.Init.HwFlowCtl & UART_HWCONTROL_CTS) {
+        // CTS can hold off transmission for an arbitrarily long time. Apply
+        // the overall timeout rather than the character timeout.
+        return HAL_UART_Transmit(&self->uart, data, len, self->timeout);
+    }
     // The timeout specified here is for waiting for the TX data register to
     // become empty (ie between chars), as well as for the final char to be
     // completely transferred.  The default value for timeout_char is long
@@ -385,25 +394,25 @@ void uart_irq_handler(mp_uint_t uart_id) {
     }
 
     if (__HAL_UART_GET_FLAG(&self->uart, UART_FLAG_RXNE) != RESET) {
-        #if defined(MCU_SERIES_F7)
-        int data = self->uart.Instance->RDR; // clears UART_FLAG_RXNE
-        #else
-        int data = self->uart.Instance->DR; // clears UART_FLAG_RXNE
-        #endif
-        data &= self->char_mask;
         if (self->read_buf_len != 0) {
             uint16_t next_head = (self->read_buf_head + 1) % self->read_buf_len;
             if (next_head != self->read_buf_tail) {
-                // only store data if room in buf
+                // only read data if room in buf
+                #if defined(MCU_SERIES_F7)
+                int data = self->uart.Instance->RDR; // clears UART_FLAG_RXNE
+                #else
+                int data = self->uart.Instance->DR; // clears UART_FLAG_RXNE
+                #endif
+                data &= self->char_mask;
                 if (self->char_width == CHAR_WIDTH_9BIT) {
                     ((uint16_t*)self->read_buf)[self->read_buf_head] = data;
                 } else {
                     self->read_buf[self->read_buf_head] = data;
                 }
                 self->read_buf_head = next_head;
+            } else { // No room: leave char in buf, disable interrupt
+                __HAL_UART_DISABLE_IT(&self->uart, UART_IT_RXNE);
             }
-        } else {
-            // TODO set flag for buffer overflow
         }
     }
 }
@@ -427,6 +436,15 @@ STATIC void pyb_uart_print(const mp_print_t *print, mp_obj_t self_in, mp_print_k
         } else {
             mp_printf(print, "%u", self->uart.Init.Parity == UART_PARITY_EVEN ? 0 : 1);
         }
+        if (self->uart.Init.HwFlowCtl) {
+            mp_printf(print, ", flow=");
+            if (self->uart.Init.HwFlowCtl & UART_HWCONTROL_RTS) {
+                mp_printf(print, "RTS%s", self->uart.Init.HwFlowCtl & UART_HWCONTROL_CTS ? "|" : "");
+            }
+            if (self->uart.Init.HwFlowCtl & UART_HWCONTROL_CTS) {
+                mp_printf(print, "CTS");
+            }
+        }
         mp_printf(print, ", stop=%u, timeout=%u, timeout_char=%u, read_buf_len=%u)",
             self->uart.Init.StopBits == UART_STOPBITS_1 ? 1 : 2,
             self->timeout, self->timeout_char,
@@ -434,7 +452,7 @@ STATIC void pyb_uart_print(const mp_print_t *print, mp_obj_t self_in, mp_print_k
     }
 }
 
-/// \method init(baudrate, bits=8, parity=None, stop=1, *, timeout=1000, timeout_char=0, read_buf_len=64)
+/// \method init(baudrate, bits=8, parity=None, stop=1, *, timeout=1000, timeout_char=0, flow=0, read_buf_len=64)
 ///
 /// Initialise the UART bus with the given parameters:
 ///
@@ -444,6 +462,7 @@ STATIC void pyb_uart_print(const mp_print_t *print, mp_obj_t self_in, mp_print_k
 ///   - `stop` is the number of stop bits, 1 or 2.
 ///   - `timeout` is the timeout in milliseconds to wait for the first character.
 ///   - `timeout_char` is the timeout in milliseconds to wait between characters.
+///   - `flow` is RTS | CTS where RTS == 256, CTS == 512
 ///   - `read_buf_len` is the character length of the read buffer (0 to disable).
 STATIC mp_obj_t pyb_uart_init_helper(pyb_uart_obj_t *self, mp_uint_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *pos_args, mp_map_t *kw_args) {
     static const mp_arg_t allowed_args[] = {
@@ -847,7 +866,7 @@ STATIC mp_uint_t pyb_uart_write(mp_obj_t self_in, const void *buf_in, mp_uint_t
         return MP_STREAM_ERROR;
     }
 
-    // wait to be able to write the first character
+    // wait to be able to write the first character. EAGAIN causes write to return None
     if (!uart_tx_wait(self, self->timeout)) {
         *errcode = EAGAIN;
         return MP_STREAM_ERROR;
@@ -859,6 +878,17 @@ STATIC mp_uint_t pyb_uart_write(mp_obj_t self_in, const void *buf_in, mp_uint_t
     if (status == HAL_OK) {
         // return number of bytes written
         return size;
+    } else if (status == HAL_TIMEOUT) { // UART_WaitOnFlagUntilTimeout() disables RXNE interrupt on timeout
+        if (self->read_buf_len > 0) {
+            __HAL_UART_ENABLE_IT(&self->uart, UART_IT_RXNE); // re-enable RXNE
+        }
+        // return number of bytes written
+        if (self->char_width == CHAR_WIDTH_8BIT) {
+            return size - self->uart.TxXferCount - 1;
+        } else {
+            int written = self->uart.TxXferCount * 2;
+            return size - written - 2;
+        }
     } else {
         *errcode = mp_hal_status_to_errno_table[status];
         return MP_STREAM_ERROR;