UK weather: Storm Gareth prompts Met Office warnings as 75mph winds cause chaos

Strong gales and heavy rain have caused widespread travel disruption as Storm Gareth sweeps over the UK.

Rush-hour trains across the country have been cancelled, delayed or are running with speed restrictions amid winds of up to 75mph.

Flights and ferries have also been affected, while Highways England warned drivers faced road closures and “difficult conditions”.

The Met Office has issued two yellow warnings for high winds covering Northern Ireland, Wales, most of England, and the west coast of Scotland.

Gusts of up to 75mph were recorded in Scotland on Tuesday night, while winds of over 60mph were seen widely across western parts of the UK in the early hours of Wednesday.

Forecaster Alex Burhill said: "We've got some very strong winds. The strongest in the morning rush hour are probably going to be around Northern Ireland and also western coastal parts, particularly western Scotland and north-west England.

"Eastern areas might start getting some very strong winds by that point, but generally across much of the UK it's going to be very windy this morning.

"People need to be aware that there could be some travel disruption because there could be delays to things like ferries and aircraft and also bridges may need to be closed."

Six crew were rescued from a stricken French fishing boat off Lands End, Cornwall, in “atrocious weather conditions”, HM Coastguard said.

They were airlifted from La Fanette by helicopter from Newquay after being buffeted by six-metre waves and storm force winds.

Storm Gareth will move eastwards across the UK throughout the day, with the worst of the winds lashing the country in the early hours of the morning before easing gradually in the afternoon as a deep area of low pressure moves out to the North Sea.

Tens of thousands of travellers were expected to be hit by travel disruption on Wednesday.

Commuters using trains in Wales, Scotland, the north of England and East Anglia were warned that services could be affected by high winds during the morning rush hour, with speed restrictions in place across a wide area.

Trains between Durham and Newcastle were halted until at least 9am after overhead electric wires were damaged, impacting LNER, CrossCountry, Northern and Transpennine Express services.

Some Virgin Trains services between Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston and between Glasgow Central and Preston were cancelled.

On the roads, fallen trees blocked roads and some exposed routes in northeast England were closed to high-sided vehicles.

The second day of Cheltenham Festival was at risk of abandonment due to strong winds, but organisers gave Wednesday’s racing the go-ahead following a late safety inspection.

The Environment Agency issued four flood warnings, including two for the River Ouse near York, as heavy showers soak the UK.

Dozens of lesser flood alerts – meaning flooding is possible – are also in place around the country.

Storm Gareth is expected to have moved out into the North Sea by Wednesday evening, although another band of wet and windy weather is set to arrive from the west hours later.