More severe gales to sweep Britain overnight

Winds gusting up to 80 mph are expected to sweep across the country late on Tuesday and into early Wednesday, a day after a storm brought down trees and power lines in southern England and Wales.

The Met Office issued a severe weather warning for much of the United Kingdom on Tuesday.

It said the strongest winds would reach Northern Ireland late on Tuesday evening before racing across parts of southwest Scotland, northern England, north Wales and the Midlands during Wednesday.

Heavy snow was also forecast for higher parts of northern England and southern Scotland, with blizzard conditions early on Wednesday.

"Disruption to transport and power supplies is possible and there may be damage to buildings and trees," the Met Office said.

Homes in Kent and Sussex were left without power on Tuesday morning after Monday's Atlantic storm lashed southern England.

The highest wind speed was recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight where the gale reached 95 mph.

The storm forced the closure of the Port of Dover, and disrupted road, rail and air travel in the southeast.