Police are asking people to only drive if necessary as Storm Bert hits the South West. The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for strong winds and heavy rain for Devon and Cornwall until Sunday evening. Hundreds of properties across Devon and Cornwall are without power, and a number of flood alerts are in place.

Storm Bert will bring more than 100mm of rain to some parts of the UK, the Met Office says, and snow to others following a cold few days, during which the mercury sank to -11.2C in Aberdeenshire

THE Met Office has activated nine weather warnings, including two amber warnings, as Storm Bert batters the nation. Virtually every area of the country is covered by alerts for snow, rain or ice.