Storm causes Cambridgeshire power cuts and cancels show

A tree is uprooted in the orchard of Jesus College, Cambridge

Dozens of trees were uprooted and power cut after strong winds battered the east of England.

UK Power Networks managed to restore power to thousands of homes, with gusts of up to 74mph recorded at Wittering.

The storm led to the final day of the LAMMA agricultural show being cancelled, causing major traffic problems in Peterborough.

A man was also seriously injured when his car collided with a fallen tree in Waterbeach at about 05:30 GMT.

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Further disruption occurred on the A47 after a lorry was blown over between Wisbech and Guyhirn during the early hours.

The road was shut for about four hours during the morning, with Highways England reporting "a major spillage".

UK Power Networks has restored power to 100,200 homes in the East - but some remain cut off

Fallen trees disrupted several roads in the county, with one commuter describing the A10 at Waterbeach as "mayhem", and roads into and out of Cambridge were left heavily congested.

East Coast Mainline and Great Northern train services were subject to delays after overhead power line damage between Peterborough and Huntingdon.

Roads across the county have been affected by fallen trees

Organisers of the LAMMA agricultural show, at the East of England showground in Peterborough, decided to cancel the second and final day on Thursday, citing "extremely strong winds".

"Regrettably, due to the extreme winds last night and this morning has caused serious damage to stands and structures," a statement read on Twitter.

The event, showcasing farming machinery, equipment and technology, attracts more than 40,000 visitors every year.

Alternative routes

Cambridgeshire County Council confirmed that two primary schools - Elm Church of England and Sutton Primary - were closed because of power issues.

Sgt Ian Manley, from Cambridgeshire Police, said officers dealt with an "unprecedented" number of emergency calls, mainly involving fallen trees.

He advised drivers that a number of roads were closed and debris would take some time to clear, so commuters should try to find alternative routes where possible.