UK storms: Cables and trees block roads

Cliffs at Sennen in Cornwall were blasted by waves as high tide approached

Winds gusting to 94mph (151 km/h) have brought down power cables and trees, blocking roads in Devon and Cornwall.

In Plymouth, buildings were evacuated after high winds damaged the YMCA building, in Cobourg Street.

Across the South West, more than 5,000 properties have been affected by power cuts.

In north Devon, a man was taken to hospital after he was trapped under a fallen tree in Chivenor, Barnstaple.

Fire crews found the man under a large branch at about 14:15 GMT. His condition is unknown.

The Met Office had issued an amber weather warning for winds around most of the South West.

In Porthleven in Cornwall, harbour master Phil Ward said all fishing boats have been removed after wooden barriers were smashed in an earlier storm, leaving vessels at the mercy of the weather.

Fishing boats were cleared from Porthleven Harbour in Cornwall after storms previously smashed wooden barriers

Several fallen trees have caused problems across the region, including at Par, in Cornwall

The lido in Plymouth was battered amid forecasts of waves up to 30ft high off the South West coast

Waves at Fistral Beach, in Newquay, Cornwall, were too blown out for surfing

"We are just praying we don't get any damage to the harbour walls," added Mr Ward.

Winds gusting up to 94mph (151 km/h) were recorded at Dartmouth in Devon by National Coastwatch.

In other updates:

• Engineers have removed a balcony from the storm-damaged Kingsand clock tower after it was hanging on with one bolt. English Heritage is expected to assess the damage on Thursday

• Roof slates fell from the Job Centre building in Torquay, with one smashing a town hall window opposite

• Fallen power cables blocked roads at Carbis Bay and on the A387 between Liskeard and Looe

• A tree blocked the A30 heading between Penzance and Land's End

• Haldon Forest Park on the edge of Exeter was closed because of the severe weather

• The Tamar Bridge between Devon and Cornwall was down to one lane "for safety reasons"

• Devon highways operations manager High Griffith tweeted that a fallen tree had blocked Castle Street in Okehampton

• The first of Flybe's extra "rescue flights" from Newquay in Cornwall took off on Wednesday to ease transport in and out of the region following damage to the track at Dawlish in Devon

• Westward Ho! gate at Northam Burrows was closed to vehicles

Engineers removed a balcony from the storm-damaged Kingsand clock tower after it was hanging on with one bolt

The weather hampered repairs at Dawlish where the rail track has been wrecked by storms

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has insisted all options remain on the table for building an alternative to the railway line at Dawlish in Devon, which has been destroyed by storms.

The line links Cornwall and much of Devon with the rest of the UK.

The government has confirmed that Network Rail will be given £31.3m to spend on ten flood protection schemes in the west of England, including at Cowley Bridge Junction, in Devon.

Mr McLoughlin said an alternative inland route for the long term would be studied.

But he acknowledged many people were determined the coastal route should never be lost.

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