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Thousands face power and travel disruption as storm hits Fresh storm causes major disruption
(35 minutes later)
There has been further flooding with power supplies and transport disrupted after south-west England and south Wales were hit by a powerful storm. South-west England and south Wales are being battered by a powerful storm, with thousands of homes without power and transport disrupted.
Engineers have been working to restore power but more than 7,000 homes are still without electricity. Forecasters have warned that the storm is "on the move" heading east, with winds of up to 50mph in London, rain, thunder and hail forecast.
In Dawlish, Devon, a section of sea wall under the railway line collapsed, leaving the track suspended in mid-air.In Dawlish, Devon, a section of sea wall under the railway line collapsed, leaving the track suspended in mid-air.
David Cameron will chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee later to consider the government's response. David Cameron will chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee later.
Engineers have been working to restore power but more than 7,000 homes are still without electricity.
It is the first time this year that the prime minister will have chaired a meeting of Cobra to discuss the floods and follows widespread criticism of Environment Secretary Owen Paterson's handling of the crisis.It is the first time this year that the prime minister will have chaired a meeting of Cobra to discuss the floods and follows widespread criticism of Environment Secretary Owen Paterson's handling of the crisis.
The prime minister's office said Mr Cameron was anxious to ensure that "all that can be done is being done".The prime minister's office said Mr Cameron was anxious to ensure that "all that can be done is being done".
Earlier, First Great Western said all lines between Exeter St Davids and Penzance were closed because of adverse weather conditions and it advised against travel for the rest of the day.Earlier, First Great Western said all lines between Exeter St Davids and Penzance were closed because of adverse weather conditions and it advised against travel for the rest of the day.
It said some branch lines in Devon and Cornwall were though starting to operate.
Part of the sea wall at Dawlish, which is between Exeter and Cornwall, has collapsed and the railway station and tracks have been severely damaged by huge waves, driven by gale-force winds.Part of the sea wall at Dawlish, which is between Exeter and Cornwall, has collapsed and the railway station and tracks have been severely damaged by huge waves, driven by gale-force winds.
The Environment Agency has nine severe flood warnings in place, meaning "danger to life", covering much of the south coast from Cornwall to Dorset and two areas of Somerset.The Environment Agency has nine severe flood warnings in place, meaning "danger to life", covering much of the south coast from Cornwall to Dorset and two areas of Somerset.
Western Power Distribution said about 44,000 customers had been affected by power cuts since Tuesday afternoon and 7,400 homes in south-west England remained without power.Western Power Distribution said about 44,000 customers had been affected by power cuts since Tuesday afternoon and 7,400 homes in south-west England remained without power.
Overnight 'pasting'Overnight 'pasting'
The Met Office said gusts of up to 70mph and 20mm of rain had spread from the South West to south-west Wales and eastern Northern Ireland overnight.The Met Office said gusts of up to 70mph and 20mm of rain had spread from the South West to south-west Wales and eastern Northern Ireland overnight.
Western Power Distribution said there had been high voltage faults due to debris being blown around in Devon and Cornwall.Western Power Distribution said there had been high voltage faults due to debris being blown around in Devon and Cornwall.
Teams of engineers worked through the night to try to fix the faults, and the company said it would also switch circuits to work around individual faults.Teams of engineers worked through the night to try to fix the faults, and the company said it would also switch circuits to work around individual faults.
Phil Davies, network service manager for the company, said they had had "quite a pasting in the South West overnight".Phil Davies, network service manager for the company, said they had had "quite a pasting in the South West overnight".
"We are importing some staff from south Wales and the Midlands to help and we are confident we can get everybody back [with power] today.""We are importing some staff from south Wales and the Midlands to help and we are confident we can get everybody back [with power] today."
In other developments:In other developments:
In Wales, a number of main roads were closed by fallen trees or flooding.In Wales, a number of main roads were closed by fallen trees or flooding.
Trees blocked the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road at Hirwaun, the A484 at Carmarthen and the A476 at Ffairfach in Carmarthenshire. The A484 has been blocked by flooding at Cenarth in Carmarthenshire.
Firefighters have also been called out to deal with dangerous structures. There have been two incidents in the Tenby area of Pembrokeshire with roofing being blown off buildings.Firefighters have also been called out to deal with dangerous structures. There have been two incidents in the Tenby area of Pembrokeshire with roofing being blown off buildings.
The Met Office has an amber severe weather warning - meaning "be prepared" - for wind for southern England between 08:00 and 15:00 GMT on Wednesday, as well as warnings for wind and rain for other parts of the UK.The Met Office has an amber severe weather warning - meaning "be prepared" - for wind for southern England between 08:00 and 15:00 GMT on Wednesday, as well as warnings for wind and rain for other parts of the UK.
The Environment Agency's severe flood warnings cover South Cornwall, South Devon from Start Point to Dawlish Warren, South Devon from Exmouth to Lyme Regis, Lyme Regis harbour, West Bay in Dorset, Weymouth seafront, Chiswell on the Isle of Portland, and two areas of Somerset - the A361 East Lyng to Burrowbridge, and Salt Moor and North Moor.The Environment Agency's severe flood warnings cover South Cornwall, South Devon from Start Point to Dawlish Warren, South Devon from Exmouth to Lyme Regis, Lyme Regis harbour, West Bay in Dorset, Weymouth seafront, Chiswell on the Isle of Portland, and two areas of Somerset - the A361 East Lyng to Burrowbridge, and Salt Moor and North Moor.
It also has about 70 flood warnings and more than 200 flood alerts in England and Wales.It also has about 70 flood warnings and more than 200 flood alerts in England and Wales.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has one flood warning for Kirkcaldy in Fife, and several flood alerts.The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has one flood warning for Kirkcaldy in Fife, and several flood alerts.
BBC weather presenter Matt Taylor said there would be more stormy weather on Wednesday.BBC weather presenter Matt Taylor said there would be more stormy weather on Wednesday.
"There will be another bout of potentially damaging winds into the morning rush-hour," he said."There will be another bout of potentially damaging winds into the morning rush-hour," he said.
On Tuesday, the Prince of Wales met residents in the flood-hit Somerset Levels where thousands of hectares of land remain under water and whole villages have been cut off for weeks.On Tuesday, the Prince of Wales met residents in the flood-hit Somerset Levels where thousands of hectares of land remain under water and whole villages have been cut off for weeks.
Somerset residents have expressed anger at the pace at which the Environment Agency and the government have responded.Somerset residents have expressed anger at the pace at which the Environment Agency and the government have responded.
Many said there has been a slow response from the authorities to the flooding, which has affected many parts of the Levels since December.Many said there has been a slow response from the authorities to the flooding, which has affected many parts of the Levels since December.
In Cornwall, the local authority estimated storms had caused more than £4m of damage across the county in the past month.In Cornwall, the local authority estimated storms had caused more than £4m of damage across the county in the past month.
The Met Office said another band of rain was expected to arrive from the south on Thursday.The Met Office said another band of rain was expected to arrive from the south on Thursday.
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