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Gales and fallen trees causing disruption in South East Gales and fallen trees causing disruption in South East
(35 minutes later)
Severe gale force winds, heavy rain and fallen trees are causing disruption across the south east of England.Severe gale force winds, heavy rain and fallen trees are causing disruption across the south east of England.
Dozens of roads have been closed in Kent and Sussex, including the QE2 Bridge at Dartford and Sheppey Bridge Crossing, as winds gust up to 70mph. Dozens of roads have been closed in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, including the QE2 Bridge at Dartford and Sheppey Bridge Crossing, in gusts up to 70mph.
A teenage girl was killed when a tree fell on to a mobile home in Kent.
Dungeness B automatically shut down both reactors after power to the site was cut off. EDF Energy said it was safe and its own generators were on.
A taxi driver had a lucky escape when a tree fell on his car in Eastbourne but he managed to climb out unhurt.A taxi driver had a lucky escape when a tree fell on his car in Eastbourne but he managed to climb out unhurt.
The Port of Dover was shut at about 07.15 GMT and Gatwick Airport has warned passengers to expect delays. The Port of Dover was shut about 07.15 GMT but reopened at 09:10 GMT. It said there may be delays to services.
Electricity distributor UK Power Networks has told BBC News that 40,000 properties between Brighton and Kent are without power. Gatwick Airport has warned passengers to expect delays.
The BBC's Peter Whittlesea, reporting from Dover, said: "All ferry services to France have been suspended and Dover Harbour Board said they do not know when services will be restart. Electricity distributor UK Power Networks has told BBC News that 40,000 properties between Brighton and Kent are without power. Supplies have also been affected in Surrey and West Sussex.
"Dover Coastguards has said today that wind speeds out in the Channel have been storm force eleven, gusting up to 70mph. The BBC's Peter Whittlesea, reporting from Dover, said: "Dover Coastguards has said today that wind speeds out in the Channel have been storm force eleven, gusting up to 70mph.
"That has obviously had an impact on shipping and the ferries have been forced to leave the port and take safe anchorage in the Straits of Dover." Coastguards have called off the search for resume a search for a teenager swept away off an East Sussex beach.
Coastguards will decide later whether to resume a search for a teenager swept away off an East Sussex beach. Dylan Alkins, aged 14, had been swimming with friends off Newhaven's West Beach on Sunday afternoon when police said he was "swept away by the current".
The 14-year-old boy had been swimming with friends off Newhaven's West Beach on Sunday afternoon when police said he was "swept away by the current".
Hundreds of homes in West Sussex, Brighton and Surrey are also without power.
'Trees on line''Trees on line'
Both Southeastern and Southern trains are not planning to run any rail services until about 09:00 GMT because of the conditions. Southeastern, Gatwick Express and Southern trains were unable to start running services as hoped at 09:00 GMT because of trees on the lines.
In a statement, Southeastern said: "There's been strong winds and heavy rain overnight, as predicted. And strong winds forecast to continue most of this morning. Southeastern said: "There are branches and trees blown onto many of our railway lines.
"There are trees on the line at Orpington, Sevenoaks, Frant, Beltring and a telegraph pole has been bent, obstructing the line at Deal. "Many routes don't have services at all yet.
"Network Rail will be working hard to clear these as quickly as possible. "Network Rail is working hard to clear trees and branches as quickly as possible and has cleared several trees already."
"Once they've given us the 'all clear' we'll be able to start running services." Southern railways said it would update information at 10:00 GMT and urged passengers to check its website before travelling.
On its website, Southern railways said: "Southern and Gatwick Express services will not run until it has been declared safe to do so. This will not be before 09:00." South West Trains said it would not run any trains until at least 11:00 BST. There were at least 30 trees down across its network.
There are also no South West Trains between Ascot in Berkshire and Ash Vale in Surrey, and Virginia Water and Weybridge. Drivers have been warned that localised flooding could make driving conditions extremely dangerous. The Environment Agency has also issued a number of flood alerts along the coast.
Drivers are also being warned that localised flooding could make driving conditions extremely dangerous. The Environment Agency has also issued a number of flood alerts along the coast.
A police officer suffered minor injuries when a tree fell in front of his car in Mayfield Flat, Sussex. A man was taken hospital for treatment after a tree hit a car in Ospringe Road, Faversham, Kent.A police officer suffered minor injuries when a tree fell in front of his car in Mayfield Flat, Sussex. A man was taken hospital for treatment after a tree hit a car in Ospringe Road, Faversham, Kent.
Trees have fallen on the M2, between junction 6 and 7, the A249 Sittingbourne and the A28 at Bethersden in Kent.Trees have fallen on the M2, between junction 6 and 7, the A249 Sittingbourne and the A28 at Bethersden in Kent.
There was also disruption on the M3 slip road at junction 4, near Camberley, because of a fallen tree. Strong winds and rain have also made driving conditions on the M25 very difficult.There was also disruption on the M3 slip road at junction 4, near Camberley, because of a fallen tree. Strong winds and rain have also made driving conditions on the M25 very difficult.
The A25 in Brockham and Dorking and some roads in Weybridge and Epsom have also been shut.The A25 in Brockham and Dorking and some roads in Weybridge and Epsom have also been shut.
Insp Steve Grace, of Sussex Police, said surface water and trees were causing major problems in Sussex.Insp Steve Grace, of Sussex Police, said surface water and trees were causing major problems in Sussex.
"There are large expanses of water on the roads and you just don't always see them in the dark. Hit one even at moderate speed and you can find yourself completely out of control. "There are large expanses of water on the roads and you just don't always see them in the dark. Hit one even at moderate speed and you can find yourself completely out of control."
"Fallen trees have blocked roads all over Sussex and as my colleague found out, when one falls right in front of you, there's no chance of avoiding it.
"If you have no choice but to drive then please do so with the utmost caution, but if you can stay at home until the worse of it blows through, then I'd recommend you do so."
Surrey Police Ch Insp Paul Smith said the weather in the county had not been as bad as predicted and no-one had been hurt but there was extensive damage to trees, with many down across the county.Surrey Police Ch Insp Paul Smith said the weather in the county had not been as bad as predicted and no-one had been hurt but there was extensive damage to trees, with many down across the county.
"It seems to be inconvenience and disruption to traffic as opposed to anybody hurt so in that sense it is good news," he said."It seems to be inconvenience and disruption to traffic as opposed to anybody hurt so in that sense it is good news," he said.
"For us the significant issue is probably on the Hogs Back. It is causing a lot of disruption to people.
"We have got Surrey County Council and their partners working with us and our priority is to get the roads open as quickly as possible.""We have got Surrey County Council and their partners working with us and our priority is to get the roads open as quickly as possible."
Flights cancelledFlights cancelled
Gatwick Airport said: "We are currently operating a near normal schedule this morning.Gatwick Airport said: "We are currently operating a near normal schedule this morning.
"We do still advise you to check the status of your flight with your airline and allow plenty of time for your journey to the airport.""We do still advise you to check the status of your flight with your airline and allow plenty of time for your journey to the airport."
Four flights were cancelled and six were delayed earlier because of the weather.Four flights were cancelled and six were delayed earlier because of the weather.
The airport said train services would not be running to or from Gatwick until at least 10.00 GMT.The airport said train services would not be running to or from Gatwick until at least 10.00 GMT.
BBC South East weather presenter Georgina Burnett said: "There have been severe winds this morning, it's quite a gusty day in general with sunshine and showers later on.BBC South East weather presenter Georgina Burnett said: "There have been severe winds this morning, it's quite a gusty day in general with sunshine and showers later on.
"Really the worst of it is going to south east Kent, the Dover Straits in particularly, and we could have gusts in excess of 80mph. "Really the worst of it is going to south east Kent, the Dover Straits in particularly, and we could have gusts in excess of 80mph."
"So there's potentially damaging winds over the next couple of hours."