Near Hurricane Strength Winds Pummel English Coast As Predicted

Breaking Storm News
England
Image: Nigel Hall sent this picture of Boscombe Pier to the BBC website

Severe gales with gusts of over 70mph which struck the south coast of England have subsided, say coastguards.

A spokesman for Solent coastguard said: "For a short period the wind went up to about 73mph."

The storm, which felled trees, and caused flooding and power cuts in Devon, peaked at around 4pm GMT.

Veronica Taylor, watch officer at the coastguard, said: "Anybody who goes out on a boat who doesn't know what they are doing is risking life and limb, if you do it in these conditions it is significantly more dangerous."

"The severity of the weather was incredibly well forecast", Miss Taylor said.