Suffolk and Essex saw gusts of more than 60mph last night as storm Eleanor struck the UK.

Richard Jones, forecaster at Weatherquest, said this morning winds of more than 50mph has been recorded in Suffolk and Essex - although it is expected to become less blustery trowards lunch time.

He said: “We have recorded gusts of 60mph in Wattisham and 61mph in Shoeburyness in Essex.

“Through the morning we have the potential for more high winds.

“We have had 50-60mph gusts across East Anglia in the last hour.

“We are expecting them to continue through the morning until lunch time.

“We are optimistic later in the day things will improve and that the Orwell Bridge will be able to reopen.

“Nationally there is a high ground station in northern England that recorded a gust of 100mph last night.

“Along the English channel at Needles, near the Isle of Wight there was a 89mph recorded gust.

“The winds have been quite disruptive, there are reports of trees down and power cuts too.”