James Davis from GWR said it was a "pretty bleak picture" for train travellers.

There are no services between Exeter and Taunton, external and no services beyond St Austell in Cornwall.

"It's really, really blustery out there and a number of trees have come down," he told BBC Radio Devon.

"If you are looking to travel in Devon we would advise you not to do so, certainly not on our network."

He said GWR was unable to get replacement bus services because road conditions were too poor.

Other services had been severely hit with a train every two hours between Taunton and London.

He added: "Our clear advice is do not travel today at least until the latter half of the day, check your journey and your ticket for today can be used to travel tomorrow."

Storm Ciarán has turned the sea into a whiteout of foam and spray around Newquay.

"It's blowing a hoolie out here, I think it's raining sideways," Ian Cobham from Princetown on Dartmoor has told BBC Radio Devon.

"If you get out of the car and walk across the car park you are soaking wet in seconds," said the Dartmoor Brewery manager.

"It's pretty horrible out here."

He said he was working out if the brewery could send out vans safely in the storm as a number of roads were blocked by fallen trees or flooding in the county.

Fallen trees are blocking roads around Cornwall and the council is uging drivers to only travel if absolutely essential.

Cornwall Council said incidents included:

• A30 at Alverton near Penzance
• A390 Morlaix Avenue, Truro
• A390 Union Hill, Truro
• A394 between Marazion and Goldsithney
• B3303 at Praze-an-Beeble

Ben Woolvin
BBC South West Home Affairs correspondent

Conditions in Westward Ho! in Devon are very gusty this morning.

Children’s play equipment is vibrating in the wind and a giant deck chair is taking a beating but dog walkers are still managing to stay on their feet.

Michael Chequer
BBC Radio Devon

Concerns are increasing about flooding as water levels rise on Devon rivers.

Devon County Council said the Teign, Exe and Axe were the main areas of concern.

There are 18 flood warnings, external, meaning flooding is expected, and 29 flood alerts around Devon, according to the Environment Agency.

A board at Devon County Council's emergency control centre displaying information from sensors across Devon, shows windspeeds are also picking up.

The board is showing more and more figures in yellow and red - indicating gusts in excess of 50mph (80 km/h).

Meanwhile traffic cameras show there is noticeably less traffic than normally expected at this time in the morning, while reports have started to come in of flooding and trees down across Devon.

Christine Butler
BBC Radio Cornwall

I’m quite frightened by walking out in it. It’s violent and very nasty.

I can’t give you an idea about the tides waves here in Newquay because I can’t see them and I’m afraid to go down to the beach. It’s the astonishing strength of the wind.

I’ve never felt anything like it.

There are 499 homes without power in Devon according to National Grid.

Here's the breakdown:

• Torquay 103
• Newton Abbot 68
• Honiton 130
• Cullompton 1
• Willand 102
• Tiverton 95

Train operator GWR says it is a "pretty bleak picture" across the rail network in Devon and Cornwall.

There are currently no services between Exeter and Taunton, while no trains are running beyond St Austell, it says.

The rail firm is advising customers not to travel this morning as there are no replacement buses.

James Davis, from GWR, says: "It's really, really blustery out there, a number of trees have come down across the line and a number of spots on our network have been flooded.

"Our clear advice to customers is do not travel."

Image source, PA Media

Caroline Densley
BBC Radio Devon

Waves have started to pound Exmouth’s sea wall, as high tide approaches at 09:00.

The rain is back and it’s incredibly windy and very cold.

The weather hasn’t put off several dog walkers and runners along the sea front, dodging the spray coming over the wall.

Part of the sea wall, in front of side shore, where cracks have appeared, seems to be holding up.

Penzance seafront has been taking a pounding, with dramatic pictures here of the waves crashing on to the promenade.

Image source, David Haigh

Image source, David Haigh

Image source, David Haigh

BBC Radio Cornwall

Wnds of 80mph (129 km/h) have been recorded at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall.

Meteorologist Petty Officer Hugo Ramos told BBC Radio Cornwall: "We had the highest gust recorded at 05:20 GMT at 80mph, it is easing off now.

A wind speed of 76mph (122 km/h) was recorded on the Isles of Scilly at 04:00 GMT, he said.

"It is moving eastwards now and I believe it is onthe way away from us," he added.

Michael Chequer
BBC Radio Devon

A tree has fallen on a vehicle with two people inside in Dunkeswell. No injuries reported and everyone walked away.

The A379 between Modbury and Ermington is blocked due to a landslip.

In Exeter, flooding is reported at the junction of East Wonford Hill/Rifford Road and there is flooding on the B3179 on the approach to Clyst St George roundabout. Winds now gusting to nearly 60mph at Staddiscombe in Plymouth (57.3) and more than 40mph in parts of North Devon.

Image source, National Grid

There are more than 8,500 properties across Cornwall without power, National Grid says.

It says its engineers are working to restore power as quickly as possible

Michael Chequer
BBC Radio Devon

I'm at Devon County Council's Network Operations Control Centre where we are waiting and watching for the impact of Storm Ciarán to become apparent.

Wind speeds are picking up, a lot of rain of course last night as well.

There's a road closure on the A379 between Modbury and Ermington because of a landslip.

Cornwall Council is urgng people to report problems such as flooding and fallen trees.

Councillor Martin Alvey, portfolio holder for safety, told BBC Radio Cornwall: "We have got teams across the county ready to clear blockages.

"But where there is a tailback it makes it mroe difficult to get to them so if you can avoid travel that would really be appreciated."

Incidents can be reported to the council here., external

The Tamar Bridge, connecting Devon and Cornwall near Plymouth, is open.

Managers tweeted, external there was a restriction on the centre lane due to high winds and the situation was being monitored.

BBC Radio Cornwall

Six thousand homes are without power in the county, Councillor Martin Alvey, portfolio holder for safety at Cornwall Council.

It follows National Grid reports, external of power cuts around Truro, Penzance, Camborne, Falmouth and Redruth.

A dozen major roads across Cornwall have been closed by tree falls, with some reports of power cables on the roads, said Mr Alvey.

Council teams were working to clear the roads, he added, and appealed to people not to travel unless essential.

Drivers have been warned of "treacherous" conditions as Storm Ciarán sweeps in with winds up to 90mph (144 km/h).

Clark Hobbs, of National Highways, told BBC Radio Cornwall: "Our advice would be for any high sided vehicles,motorcycles, lorries, caravans, to really watch out for gusts of wind.

"Check your braking distances as well.

"Lots of rain, lots of leaves on the ground, lots of surface water, it's going to make driving conditions very, very treacherous."

Winds have increased dramatically overnight on the Isles of Scilly.

BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood tweeted, external: "This morning at 0200 the wind was gusting about 29mph in St Mary's as the centre of #Stormciaran, external moved across, but an hour later at 0300 they had strengthened to gusts of 69mph."