Newspaper headlines: Storm Gerrit batters UK and 'HS2 homes rented out'

A range of stories feature across Thursday's front pages - but many include pictures of disruption caused by Storm Gerrit which battered Britain with snow, rain and 100mph winds and left thousands without power.

The Daily Star says Storm Gerrit left Britons facing travel chaos as the nation was hit by snow, rain and 100mph winds - adding it is the first of five storms expected this month.

Travellers have been told to delay their plans for post-Christmas journeys, according to the Daily Telegraph. It says floods, snow and strong winds brought chaos to the road and rail networks, leaving thousands of people stranded across the country.

Elsewhere, in other domestic news, the Daily Mail reports the chancellor is considering what it says are "radical plans" to halve inheritance tax - to "underline a political divide" with Labour. The paper says Jeremy Hunt has earmarked 6 March as the Spring Budget ahead of next year's general election.

But, the Daily Mirror suggests inheritance tax will be scrapped altogether, and pins the plan on the prime minister with its headline: "Rishi helps the Rich get richer". It accuses the prime minister of "looking after millionaires" in what it calls "the last Budget before the election". The paper calls them the "same old out-of-touch Tories".

Sticking with the general election theme, the Times reports on more of Labour's election plans saying the party wants to create thousands of nursery places for the under-5s as part of an appeal to working parents. It expects the policy to included in the party's manifesto.

The Guardian leads with an admission from a senior officer at the Metropolitan Police who says survivors of domestic abuse have lost trust in the force after a series of scandals. But, Det Supt Andrew Wadey insisted the Met was committed to rebuilding confidence by improving their service and behaving with respect and compassion.

The bulging order books for the world's biggest defence companies is the main story for the Financial Times. It says demand is at near record levels with a 10% rise in orders since the war in Ukraine. The FT analysed figures for 15 defence groups including Britain's BAE Systems and found order backlogs were worth more than $777bn (£606bn). The paper also notes the sustained spending on weapons has seen investors pile into arms stocks.

Finally, the i newspaper reports homes bought up for the recently scrapped HS2 rail line are being rented out for £9m a year. Homeowners who were forced to sell are described as "absolutely outraged" the money is going to the company behind the project. The paper says more than 700 houses are on the rental market in Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire. HS2 Limited said it understood the frustration, but it would lease properties where it was to the financial advantage of the taxpayer.

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