MANCHESTER
particularly in Northern Ireland and western parts of the UK.
The conditions caused major disruption in Wales and south-west England, where gusts of up to 95mph forced the closure of the M48 Severn Bridge. Power cuts hit Caerphilly, Monmouthshire and the Vale of Glamorgan.
On the south coast of England, more than 20 beachgoers formed a human chain reaching into the sea to pull two people to safety at Durdle Door, Dorset.
Britain’s worst storm for six months also wreaked havoc in Devon. Footage showed huts at Woolacombe beach
Beachgoers at Durdle Door, Dorset, spot pair in danger. Inset, human chain being washed away by the tides while onlookers watched. A Coastguard helicopter rescued two people from a cliff face near Lynmouth on Thursday after they became trapped by rising tides.
Sunseekers in Cornwall were urged to stay out of the sea yesterday after Storm Ellen caused drains to be deluged.
Surfers Against Sewage warned bathing was “not advised” as overflows could send sewage into the water.
Coastal warnings were in place for waves up to 9ft high and strong rip currents. Police backed RNLI advice to visit beaches with lifeguards and avoid storm-watching if swells get high.
But the stormy conditions, which have been more like Autumn than August, will subside today. Meteorologists said the winds will calm down to “breezy” with sunny spells and thundery showers in the North West. Sunday will be mostly dry and Monday will feature cloud and outbreaks of rain from the west.
Speed in miles per hour of winds that hit the UK in wake of Storm Ellen