Storm Freya hits Britain with 90mph gale-force winds causing travel chaos

Storm Freya has hit Britain, with winds of nearly 90mph forcing a motorway to close and rivers to burst their banks.

Highways officials have shut the M4 in both directions between Junctions 41 and 42 in South Wales because of high winds on the Briton Ferry bridge.

And a stretch of the A465 in South Wales was also shut by police after a river burst its banks.

This afternoon a gust of 87mph was recorded at Seven Stones in Cornwall.

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning, in place from 3pm on Sunday to 6am on Monday.

Two accidents happened on the M4 this afternoon as rain and high winds created havoc, Wales Online reports , forcing lane closures at Swansea and Bridgend.

At Porthcawl near Bridgend, the storm lashed waves over the top of the lighthouse.

High winds are causing a hazard, with police in Derbyshire warning that a fallen tree would be there "for quite some time", Derbyshire Live reports.

Forecasters predicted the storm would be severe enough to risk injuries and danger to life from flying debris and large waves.

The Met Office said there could also be damage to buildings and trees, with road hazards and power cuts possible.

It is warning people to be aware of possible hazards including tiles being blown from roofs, fallen branches, and beach material being thrown on to sea fronts and coastal roads.

Highways England has urged drivers to plan ahead and check forecasts before setting off.

Snow fell in the northern Pennines and Scottish Borders, serving notice that last week’s warm weather was a false dawn and that winter still packs a punch.

The Met Office said: "Storm Freya is expected to push quickly north-east across parts of England and Wales through Sunday afternoon and evening, before clearing into the North Sea through the early part of Monday.

"Gusts of 55-65 mph are likely widely, with the potential for gusts of 70-80 mph for coastal parts of Cornwall, northern Devon, Wales and north-west England.

"The very highest winds look likely to occur on Sunday evening over parts of coastal Wales."

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