Storm Bert brings wind and rain to the South West

Strong winds have brought down a tree in Plymouth's Central Park

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.

Devon and Cornwall Police said flooding was expected and asked drivers to think about whether they needed to travel.

Waves crash into the seafront in Devon on Saturday

Ch Insp Dean Drury said: "There is always that concern that there maybe flood water on the road, debris on the road, or there may even be trees that have fallen."

Devon County Council has also urged people to avoid exposed coastal paths and areas where large waves pose a risk to safety.

Some snow remains near St Breward, Cornwall, after the wintry weather on Thursday

The storm has created big swells at Bigbury-on-Sea

Ch Insp Drury said police had been briefed and would be out in force during the storm.

"We are not saying absolutely do not drive, but we are saying if you think you don't need to drive then it might be more sensible not to.

"We would always err on the side of caution and not make that journey if it's not necessary.

"If you do have to go out, reduce speed, remember there could be debris on the road and other hazards."

He added to consider the depth of any large puddles or flooded roads.

"If you are unsure, we would always advise not to drive through any form of flood water especially if you expect it to be more than 10cm of four inches deep," he said.

"Fast moving water is also very powerful and could sweep your car away."

The Met Office said winds of up to 69mph (111km/h) were recorded at Berry Head.

Storm Bert brings big waves to Penzance

Roisin Quinn, distribution operations director for the National Grid, said people should stay clear of any fallen or damaged power lines or other electricity network equipment and report it by calling 105.

She said: "We’d like to thank customers for their patience as our teams work tirelessly in challenging conditions to restore power to those affected by Storm Bert."