Storm Henry set to disrupt travel as drivers warned of 90mph gusts

The north of the UK is facing another day of disruption to travel and services as Storm Henry batters the country.

Motorists have been warned of bridge and road closures due to gusts of up to 90mph and some ferry and rail services remain suspended.

The severe weather had created difficulties for recovery teams attending to blown over vehicles, routes blocked by trees and buildings made unsafe by the extreme winds.

Henry is the eighth winter storm and comes days after the UK saw off Storm Gertrude, which brought gusts of more than 100mph in Shetland.

Councils and travel operators in the Highlands and Western Isles have responded to an amber "be prepared" warning from the Met Office, valid until 9am on Tuesday, by shutting schools and suspending train and ferry services.

Gusts of 84mph forced the closure of the Forth Road Bridge on Monday, and travel on the A82 between Glencoe and Rannoch Moor was restricted after a van and a lorry were blown off the road.

The Tay Bridge was shut and roads operator BEAR Scotland said motorists should be aware of likely closures on the Skye, Kessock, Dornoch and Cromarty bridges.

The Humber Bridge near Hull was also closed to high-sided vehicles and caravans and a speed limit was imposed after a lorry blew over in 49mph winds.

Warnings for wind at the lesser yellow "be aware" level remain in place for Northern Ireland, Wales, northern England and the West Midlands.

There have been no reports of significant power cuts, though Scottish Hydro engineers are on standby in the Western Isles, north-west Highlands, Skye and Argyll.

Storm Henry also risks further flooding in Scotland, where almost 30 flood warnings are in place across the regions.

Pascal Lardet from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency said: "There is a coastal flood risk for the Western Isles, due to storm force winds generating a large surge and waves.

"Flooding impacts could include disruption to travel, particularly causeways, from spray and wave overtopping. Elsewhere tides are currently low, however minimal impact from wave overtopping and spray is possible along exposed northern and western coastlines until Tuesday.

"Localised impacts are possible throughout Monday and overnight, including areas of the Firth of Clyde."