Devon: Storm Ciarán causes floods, power outages and shuts schools

People across Devon have been surveying the damage left in the aftermath of Storm Ciarán, as the howling winds and pelting rain finally begin to ease.

A vehicle washed off Sidmouth Esplanade overnight was a stark reminder of the storm's 60mph (96km/h) impact, while roads were closed amid floods, fallen trees and landslips.

More than 900 properties across the county were left without power and more than 250 schools were shut.

Twenty flood warnings remain in place.

Hundreds of trees were blown down, one damaging a police car near Kingsbridge, with its driver taken to hospital.

Devon and Cornwall Police advised drivers against venturing out unless essential amid fears that rivers would burst their banks.

Staff mop up at Salcombe's South Sands Hotel

As well as the 20 flood warnings, 29 more rivers remain on flood alert, which means flooding is possible, according to the Environment Agency.

Flooding was reported by residents in Seaton, on the Jurassic Coast, where the green and playground were left waterlogged.

David Noble, owner of the South Sands Hotel in Salcombe, described a "devastating end to Storm Ciarán" as a big swell blew off windows, doors and "flooded the downstairs restaurant".

As mopping up continued, he said it was probably the worst storm he had experienced at the hotel since he bought it 14 years ago.

Train travellers, meanwhile, have faced a "bleak" day, said operator GWR, which cancelled trains between Exeter and Taunton, with no replacement bus service because they too were impacted.

More than 250 schools were closed across the country, Devon County Council said.

On Dartmoor the rain was coming in "horizontally", one caller told BBC Radio Devon.

"It's blowing a hoolie out here, I think it's raining sideways," said Ian Cobham, from Princetown, on Dartmoor.

"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."

The storm's power was also evident at the Tinside Lido in Plymouth, where waves had overwhelmed the site.

Meanwhile, Devon County Council's emergency control centre reported road closures across the county.

While the main road between Modbury and Ermington was closed in both directions after a landslip, other impacted routes included the link road between the A38 and A380 at Haldon Hill, due to flooding, and Jubilee Road in Totnes because of a fallen tree.

A planned overnight closure of part of the A30 has been called off due to flooding.

The road between Modbury and Ermington was closed after a landslip

In Plymouth, an emergency road closure was in place on Cliff Road after "hoardings and boards came loose in the storm", the city council said.

Embankment Road was also closed inbound, due to an electrical fault outside a shop, with National Grid on site.

In east Devon, flood water rose on land in Axminster, blocking a lane and leaving the area looking like a "new lake", according to one resident on social media.

Plymouth's household waste recycling site at Chelson Meadow has reopened after high winds in the morning forced its closure, said the city council.

Police said the vehicle washed off Sidmouth Esplanade had been "left unattended on the ledge of a boat ramp" and would be recovered when "conditions are safe".

A police car was damaged at Gara Bridge

Devon and Cornwall was under a Met Office amber warning until 11:00 GMT, which had warned of winds of up to 60 to 70 mph.

From 11:00, a yellow weather warning was in place for the South West for wind and rain, which was set to remain in place until 17:00, with wind strengths of 50 to 60 mph expected along the coast.