Storm Ciara: Homes under threat and travel disruption across England

England has been hit by major travel disruption, flooding and power cuts as Storm Ciara wreaks havoc across the country.

Heavy rain and gales of 60mph to 80mph have brought some air, ferry and rail journeys to a standstill - with gusts of 97mph recorded on the Isle of Wight.

Fallen trees blocked roads and railway lines and people tried to protect their homes as rivers overflowed.

Drivers were rescued from rising water amid more than 200 flood warnings.

Homes in Bury, Ramsbottom and Blackpool were evacuated due to flooding.

Residents in Appleby, Cumbria, were battling to keep water out of their homes after the River Eden swamped the town.

The River Nidd in Yorkshire was expected to overflow flood defences at Pateley Bridge and the Environment Agency issued a red "danger to life" warning. That was later downgraded.

A surfer was rescued by the Coastguard more than two hours after getting into trouble off the coast of Hastings, East Sussex.

James Bovill tweeted that an uprooted tree had "fallen between two homes on Richmond Road, Solihull, appearing to narrowly miss direct impact with both of them".

"Hope all inside are OK but seems like incredibly good fortune," he said.

The QE2 Bridge at the Dartford Crossing was shut and traffic was being diverted through the East tunnel.

The M11 in Cambridgeshire was closed in both directions between junctions nine and 10 over fears that a damaged aircraft hangar roof at Duxford Airfield could be blown on to the motorway.

Avanti West Coast cancelled all trains north of Preston, and Northern cancelled more than 140 trains across northern England.

Network Rail imposed a blanket speed restriction of 50mph across the network on Sunday, warning passengers to only travel by train that day "if absolutely necessary".

Bosses at London Euston station ordered a closure its entrances for half an hour due to overcrowding fears, shortly after 13.00 GMT.

The Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Ham was postponed in the interests of supporter and staff safety.

Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (Swep) shelters opened across the country to protect homeless people from the elements.

Visitor attractions including Chester Zoo and Drayton Manor Theme Park in Staffordshire, closed due to safety concerns.

National Trust properties were also affected.

Amanda Owen, known as the Yorkshire Shepherdess, tweeted a video of a trailer being washed away.

She told BBC Radio York she had brought all her sheep down from the hill where they were grazing 1,700ft (518m) above sea level.

But she could not take them hay because streams had become "raging torrents".

"If one of those sheep jumped in, or indeed the sheep dog or a person, that would be it - end of. The force and power in that water is incredible. It's massively dangerous."

Thousands of homes were left without power across parts of England and energy suppliers were working to restore supplies.

In Cumbria, Pete Savin tweeted the BBC video of the swollen River Kent passing through Kendal.

Mountain rescue teams helped people who had become stranded in vehicles at a flooded caravan park in Keswick.

In Shap, newsagent David Anderson said he was trying to keep water out of his shop in Main Street.

He said: "There's a significant amount of water which is going right down the street.

"We've got two lads trying to mop it out and sandbags to try and prevent water getting to our living accommodation."