Cancellations and disruption as storm closes in

Blenheim Palace is closing the light trail around its landscaped gardens

Blenheim Palace is the latest visitor attraction to call off its Christmas events on Saturday due to "adverse weather conditions".

Storm Bert is set to strike the UK, with yellow wind and rain warnings in the south on Saturday and into Sunday.

The palace, in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, is closing the light trial around its landscaped gardens, the Christmas market, and the ice rink that it introduced for the first time last week.

Organisers are "monitoring the forecast" for Sunday and have made no further announcement as yet.

They apologised for any inconvenience caused and offered ticket holders the chance to rebook on another day.

Other events cancelled in the south include Christmas lights switch-ons in Dorchester, Romsey, Christchurch, New Milton, and Odiham.

• Storm Bert brings UK amber weather warnings and travel disruption

The Maidenhead event is still going ahead, though the fireworks have been cancelled and the festive market and entertainment is being moved indoors.

Holly Clarke, who will be representing Stand Out for Autism, a charity which is showcasing their "sensory bus" at the event, told the BBC: "We have not let Storm Bert cancel our festive fun today at all."

Portsmouth Road in Southampton was closed because of a fallen power cable

Organisers of Wokingham's Winter Carnival said the event on Sunday would not go ahead.

"The high winds being forecast for this Sunday would not allow us to put up the stage, operate the fairground and would be dangerous for our stallholders," they said.

Portsmouth's We Shine lights festival has also cancelled its outdoor installations, although the indoor ones are still going ahead.

Sir Harold Hillier Arboretum and Gardens in Hampshire and Moors Valley Country Park in Dorset are closed for the weekend, while Itchen Valley Country Park near Southampton has cancelled its Christmas market.

Strong gusts have struck the southern coast, with speeds of 71mph recorded at the Needles off the Isle of Wight.

Wightlink and Red Funnel are warning passengers to expect delays and cancellations to their Isle of Wight ferries and are encouraging people to check their websites before they travel.

Train delays

Portsmouth Road was closed in Southampton after a power cable fell near the junction with Grange Road in Old Netley.

In Reading, the planned installation of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge on the A33 Relief Road over the weekend has has been postponed. Resurfacing work had also been planned.

It means the A33 Relief Road, which was due to shut during the works, will be open as usual.

The installation of of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge in Reading has been postponed

South Western Railway said due to the forecasts of "severe weather", and "extreme rainfall and strong winds", trains would be running at reduced speed on all lines, meaning possible delays and disruptions until midday on Monday.

It asked passengers to only travel west of Basingstoke if their journeys are essential.

Services between Exeter and London Waterloo will start and finish at Basingstoke, with journey times longer between Salisbury and Exeter, and between Bournemouth and Weymouth, due to speed restrictions.

All services will start later than usual on Sunday and Monday because of safety inspections.

In Hampshire, a man died after a tree fell on a car on the A34 at Kings Worthy on Saturday morning, leading the route to be closed for more than six hours.

Hampshire police would not confirm if the incident was storm related, saying it was "currently under investigation".

In sport, the Championship meeting between Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth was postponed following an inspection because of a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park, though hundreds of fans had already set off on the 268-mile journey north.