WORLD NEWS: UK - Storm Imogen Hits The UK With 96mph Winds

Storm Imogen has brought winds of nearly 100mph to Britain's southern coast, causing travel and power problems for many.

Winds of up to 96mph were recorded at The Needles off the Isle of Wight earlier, with Pembrey in Wales seeing 84mph and Sherkin Island in Ireland recording 83mph.

Almost 16,000 homes have been without power, mainly in the South West, but properties in the Midlands and Wales have also been affected by the high winds.
The RSPCA has appealed for help in finding one of its inspectors who has gone missing after rescuing sea birds.


A search is under way for Mike Reid, 54, who disappeared after being called out to save dozens of gannets stranded by the weather on rocks at Porthchapel Beach near Penzance around 2pm on Sunday.

Two children, aged five and seven, suffered serious leg injuries after the storm caused a stone garden wall to fall on them in the Worcestershire village of Bretforton. They have been airlifted to hospital.

In Exeter, a father and daughter were lucky to escape injury when a 100ft tree was blown onto their car as it sat outside their house. Just minutes later they were due to be getting in the car to make their way to school.

Firefighters in the New Forest, Hampshire, rescued a man trapped in his car by a fallen tree on Sunday night. He was treated for minor injuries.

Conditions out at sea have reached "phenomenal" states, with waves topping 16m. A wave of 19.1m was recorded off the coast of St Ives, the Met Office said.

And the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science recorded a 20.9m wave off the Isles of Scilly.

Officials have warned people to keep a safe distance, although, due to tides and currents, the swells are unlikely to hit land.

By  Monday afternoon, the Severn Bridge on the M48 remained closed to some vehicles, along with the A21 in East Sussex between the A28 and A2100, the A249 Sheppey Crossing, the A282 Dartford Crossing (southbound only) and the A1 in Bedfordshire closed between the A603 and A421, Highways England said.

Gary Webb from Highways England said drivers should plan journeys in advance and check the latest weather conditions.

He added: "Be aware of sudden gusts of wind, and give high-sided vehicles, caravans, and motorbikes plenty of space."

The Port of Dover was closed for two hours overnight on Sunday, with P&O Ferries tweeting on Monday that its Dover to Calais route would be disrupted. Brittany Ferries said many of its sailings would also see disruption, with "significant" disruption on its services to Spain.

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