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| South England faces storm havoc | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Severe gales are hitting southern parts of England as a winter storm unleashes winds of up to 70mph. | |
| So far, the storm has brought down trees and caused flooding and power outages in Devon. | |
| A father and his nine-year-old son who were swept away in a rain-swollen Devon river have been rescued. | |
| Meanwhile, a St John's Ambulance Crew in Surrey had a lucky escape after strong winds blew a poplar tree on top of their vehicle. | |
| The storm is currently buffeting the Isle of Wight and is expected to track from west to east carrying heavy rain up the Kentish coastline. | |
| Solent Coastguard said it expected commercial ships to request shelter in the area around the Isle of Wight. | Solent Coastguard said it expected commercial ships to request shelter in the area around the Isle of Wight. |
| Veronica Taylor, watch officer at the coastguard, said the forecast for the south coast was severe gale force nine, rising to storm force 10. | Veronica Taylor, watch officer at the coastguard, said the forecast for the south coast was severe gale force nine, rising to storm force 10. |
| Life and limb | Life and limb |
| "That's the kind of wind that can uproot trees and cause damage to buildings; that's what we're talking about," she said. | "That's the kind of wind that can uproot trees and cause damage to buildings; that's what we're talking about," she said. |
| Ms Taylor said she expected leisure boats to remain ashore. | Ms Taylor said she expected leisure boats to remain ashore. |
| "Anybody who goes out on a boat who doesn't know what they are doing is risking life and limb, if you do it in these conditions it is significantly more dangerous," she said. | "Anybody who goes out on a boat who doesn't know what they are doing is risking life and limb, if you do it in these conditions it is significantly more dangerous," she said. |
| During Saturday night the Isles of Scilly were struck by 70mph winds and waves of more than 40ft (12m) were recorded off the Atlantic coast. | During Saturday night the Isles of Scilly were struck by 70mph winds and waves of more than 40ft (12m) were recorded off the Atlantic coast. |
| The English Channel saw waves of 25ft (7.6m) from strong winds blowing from the Atlantic. | |
| Surf | |
| But some surfers have capitalised on the conditions, defying warnings to ride what are thought to be the biggest waves recorded off the west coast of Ireland. | |
| Waves estimated at 55ft (16.7m) high bore down on the coast at Mullagmore Head in Donegal Bay on Saturday. | |
| Are you in the path of the storm? You can send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in the path of the storm? You can send us your experiences using the form below. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial 61124. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial 61124. |
| If you have a large file you can upload here. | If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |