In pictures: Strong winds and rain batter the UK

A wave hitting the sea wall in Dawlish

Waves pound Dawlish, Devon, where a section of sea wall under the railway line collapsed, leaving the track suspended in mid-air. The line is of strategic importance as it connects the South West with the rest of England.

Damage to the track at Dawlish, Devon

As well as wrecking the railway line in Dawlish, the storm left thousands of homes without power.

A section of the track near Dawlish

Rail services between Exeter St Davids and Penzance have been suspended. Police say both the track and the railway station at Dawlish suffered "severe damage".

The damaged sea wall at Dawlish

Police are urging people to stay away from coastal areas and have warned motorists to "expect the unexpected" if driving on rural roads.

Waves crashing into the coast in Plymouth

In Plymouth, police said the Hoe area was being hit by large waves which were causing damage to some properties. "We are currently working with the local authority to make the area as safe as possible," a spokesman said.

Damage to walls Tinside lido, in Plymouth

A section of the Tinside Lido, in Plymouth, was damaged. Martin Weiler, from the Environment Agency, said: "We've had an horrendous night with a ferocious cocktail of elements coming together to batter the south Devon coast."

Residents being handed sandbags in Topsham, near Exeter, in Devon

Residents in Topsham, near Exeter, were given sandbags to protect their properties.

The clock tower in Kingsand is battered by waves caused by the stormy weather

In Kingsand in south-east Cornwall, a clock tower is in danger of collapsing after being battered by waves. Twenty homes were evacuated.

Brighton pier damaged by bad weather

A view of the 148-year-old West Pier in Brighton, East Sussex, part of which collapsed in the high winds and stormy seas.

Overturned lorry on the A35 between Bridport and Dorchester.

Road users also struggled in the stormy conditions. This lorry overturned on the A35 between Bridport and Dorchester.

Flood water in Cork

The Republic of Ireland has also been badly hit by storms, with floodwaters surging through the city centre streets in Cork