Bar owner 'loses everything' as Storm Babet hits

A shipping container belonging to a beach bar in Torquay was washed into the sea

A business owner in Devon has said he has "lost everything" after his beach bar was swept into the sea during Storm Babet.

The Soak beach bar on Torquay seafront was destroyed during high tide.

Co-owner Sean White said: "We’re devastated... we've lost everything."

There was also major damage to a number of beach huts in Paignton and Teignmouth.

Waves have caused damage to beach huts in Paignton

Mr White said the storm surge and accumulation of water "caught us off guard".

He said he checked on the business on Tuesday night, but it was too late.

"Two hours before the high tide happened, the water was coming over the wall," he said.

"Annoyingly, we’ve just recovered from the loss of another business - we’ve just picked ourselves up... and now it’s gone."

Waves hitting the seawall at Goodrington Beach, Paignton

Severe weather also also caused disruption for road and rail commuters.

Train operator Great Western Railway said severe weather along the Dawlish coastal route meant trains between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot could be cancelled, delayed or revised.

National Rail said severe weather and a broken down train meant lines between Exeter St Davids and Paignton and Plymouth may be disrupted.

Devon County Council said flooding meant Withycombe Village Road in Exmouth was closed.

National Highways said the A303, between the A358 at Horton Cross and the A30 at Upottery, had reopened in both directions after an earlier crash.

Tor Bay Harbour Authority said on Facebook it was aware of damage to beach huts in the area.

It said a clean-up operation would begin when the weather improved.

Sean White's beach bar was washed into the sea

Sam Williams, who owns a hut at Goodrington North, Paignton, said at least one beach hut had completely washed away.

"It's carnage - there's just wood everywhere," he said.

"There's going to be a lot of sad beach hut owners at the moment."

Torbay Beach Hut User Group said: “The photos say it all, beach huts bring communities together, a happy place for all ages so much positivity is good for our wellness of hut users.

"It is a very sad day to see so much damage but we are glad no-one has been injured.”

Beach huts were also destroyed in Teignmouth.

A seaside skate park in the town also appeared to be full of water.

Amy Scott, from the Livermead House Hotel in Torquay, said the seafront was "wild and windy".

"Everywhere is wet, it’s absolutely flooded, the waves are huge at the moment," she said.

"I've seen a very few brave joggers... [but] it's at a standstill, nothing is really moving."

'Precarious state'

Torbay Council warned that high tides were expected during the morning rush-hour over the next few days, "so there is always the potential for the seafront road to be closed".

It said staff had been moving beach huts into storage since 2 October and the operation usually took about four weeks.

But "due to previous bad weather conditions, we have not been able to move them all yet" and "unfortunately, we are aware that there has been damage to several beach huts".

Access to Roundham promenade had been closed "due to the number of huts in a precarious state", said a council spokesperson.

"As soon as it is safe for a full assessment, we will update you further and contact customers individually," they added.

Storm Babet, a complex area of low pressure which developed to the west of the Iberian Peninsula, was named by the Met Office on Monday.

People in others parts of the UK and Ireland are also being warned about the extreme rain and wind.

David Braine, Senior Meteorologist, BBC South West, said "some sizeable waves were whipped up by the easterly winds - an unusual direction for us to see such strong winds".

He added no weather warnings were in force for the region, with most warnings in northern Britain.

A seaside skate park in Teignmouth was full of water