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UK storms: Thousands of homes suffer power cuts UK storms: Thousands of homes suffer power cuts
(35 minutes later)
Thousands of homes are without power after strong winds and rain hit the south-west of England and Wales. Thousands of homes are without power after strong winds and heavy rain hit south-west England and Wales.
The Met Office said gusts of up to 70mph and 20mm of rain spread from the South West to south-west Wales and eastern Northern Ireland overnight. The Environment Agency has six severe flood warnings in place, meaning "danger to life", covering much of the south coast from Cornwall to Dorset.
Western Power Distribution said about 44,000 customers had been affected by power cuts since Tuesday afternoon and 5,000 homes remained without power.Western Power Distribution said about 44,000 customers had been affected by power cuts since Tuesday afternoon and 5,000 homes remained without power.
Rail services in south-west England have also been disrupted.Rail services in south-west England have also been disrupted.
First Great Western said all lines between Exeter St Davids and Penzance were closed because of adverse weather conditions and would remain so until at least 09:30 GMT.First Great Western said all lines between Exeter St Davids and Penzance were closed because of adverse weather conditions and would remain so until at least 09:30 GMT.
The Met Office said gusts of up to 70mph and 20mm of rain spread from the South West to south-west Wales and eastern Northern Ireland overnight.
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.
Overnight 'pasting'Overnight 'pasting'
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.
Some customers in west, south and mid-Wales were also without power, it added.Some customers in west, south and mid-Wales were also without power, it added.
Phil Davies, network service manager for the company, said: "The problem we get when we get high winds like this is wind-borne material coming into contact with our overhead lines and causing short-circuits and causing the conductors to fall. Phil Davies, network service manager for the company, said they had had "quite a pasting in the South West overnight".
"We have had quite a pasting in the South West overnight, since about five o'clock last night. A total of about 44,000 customers have been affected in all since then and we have restored the vast majority of those and we are continuing this morning to restore those as quickly as we can. "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.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.
'Listen and act''Listen and act'
The Cobra meeting was chaired by Environment Secretary Owen Paterson.The Cobra meeting was chaired by Environment Secretary Owen Paterson.
A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: "With heavy rain predicted this week, the environment secretary has chaired a further meeting of Cobra to ensure that everything that can be done is being done.A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: "With heavy rain predicted this week, the environment secretary has chaired a further meeting of Cobra to ensure that everything that can be done is being done.
"All requests for assistance have been met and we will continue to work closely with local authorities. It is vital that people listen and act on any advice from the Environment Agency and the emergency services.""All requests for assistance have been met and we will continue to work closely with local authorities. It is vital that people listen and act on any advice from the Environment Agency and the emergency services."
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 has four severe flood warnings in place - meaning "danger to life" - for South Cornwall, Weymouth, West Bay in Dorset, and Lyme Regis. The Environment Agency has six severe flood warnings in place covering South Cornwall, South Devon from Start Point to Dawlish Warren, South Devon from Exmouth to Lyme Regis, Lyme Regis harbour, West Bay in Dorset, and Weymouth seafront.
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.
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 Somerset Levels since the end of December.Many said there has been a slow response from the authorities to the flooding, which has affected many parts of the Somerset Levels since the end of 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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