IN STORM DENNIS
flooding is expected, and more than 180 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible. Forecasters were last night expecting winds to reach 70mph along coastlines, while some parts of the country could witness up to 4.7 inches of rain.
Power cuts and major disruptions to trains and bus services are also expected.
North Wales Police said very high winds had led to debris and branches falling off trees.
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said it had rescued a motorist from a car stuck in flood water in the Liskeard area.
Flood defences are due to be in operation this weekend, with additional temporary flood barriers being installed in Shropshire, Lancashire,yorkshire and Surrey.
More than 500 staff are on active incident duty and 30 mobile pumps have been deployed. Meanwhile, people living near railways are being urged to secure any loose items in their gardens, after several trampolines were blown on to tracks and overhead electric wires last weekend, blocking lines.
Planes have been grounded for safety reasons, with British Airways and easyjet confirming cancellation of flights.
More than 230 easyjet flights in and out of the UK were cancelled by the airline yesterday.
A spokesman for British Airways said they are “merging a small number of Heathrow short-haul flights to the same destination and using larger aircraft where possible to minimise disruption”.
A spokeswoman for Heathrow Airport said: “To minimise the number of flights cancelled at short notice we have taken the joint decision to preemptively consolidate today’s schedule.”