Gales leave thousands powerless

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Thousands of people have been left without power after winds of up to 100mph (160km/h) battered the South.

Southern Electric reported about 13,000 homes across Dorset, Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight being left with no electricity due to damaged cables.

Heavy rain and high tides overnight led to flood warnings being issued in Weymouth, Christchurch and Hamble.

In Portsmouth, a section of the M27 was closed at junction 12 in the morning after bad weather caused a mudslide.

In Dorset the A350 was closed after a tree brought down a power line.

Ross Easton, of Southern Electric, said engineers were working to restore power in all areas as quickly as possible.