Kent was blasted by strong winds, bringing power cuts, flood alerts and travel problems.

Gusts overnight and throughout this morning's rush hour brought down dozens of trees across the county, with highways teams working to clear blocked roads.

Several flood alerts are in place across the north and east of the county, including in Gravesend, where riverside paths have flooded ahead of an expected tidal surge.

The QEII Bridge reopened at around 9am after being closed overnight. The Sheppey Crossing remained shut until around 1pm.

In Sittingbourne, the storm ripped the roof off changing rooms at Woodcombe FC’s Murston Park ground, sending it soaring into the car park. Luckily, no one was injured.

Elsewhere, Walderslade Road in Chatham remains closed between Princes Avenue and Chesnut Avenue after a large tree blew down at around 5.10am, cutting power to homes and blocking the road.

In Upchurch, a fallen tree is thought to have caused a two-car crash which left a woman trapped.

Trees also came down in Hatch Lane, Chartham, Westgate Court, Avenue, Canterbury, Shalloak Road, Canterbury, Ronbridge Road, Plaxtol, Istead Rise, Wrotham, New Barn Road, Southfleet, Leeds Road, Sutton Valance, Sandling Lane, Boxley, Bull Lane, Aylesford, Iwade, Sheppey, Church Road, Sittingbourne and Old Ashford Road, Lenham.

Staff arriving to work on the Medway City Estate in Rochester had to climb over a large fallen tree blocking the road.

On the trains, services were suspended between Sittingbourne and Sheerness-on-Sea after a fence was blown onto the track and cut off the power. National Rail says the fence was removed and power returned at 9am.

There are delays of up to 90 minutes on P&O Ferries and 30 minutes on DFDS services due to choppy seas.

Homes were also hit by power cuts in areas including Sandwich, Wingham, Broad Oak, Faversham, All Hallows and Headcorn.

A yellow "be aware" wind warning was in place until 9am.

A Met Office spokesman said: "Very strong winds will affect parts of the UK early on Thursday.

"Road, rail and ferry services may be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations.

"There is also a possibility that some bridges may close. Power cuts may occur, and there is the potential for other services, such as mobile phone coverage, to be affected.

"Injuries and danger to life from flying debris are possible, along with some damage to buildings.

"In addition, large waves are expected to affect some western coasts with beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties. This is an update to the warning, to increase the southward extent."

Flood alerts were issued by the Environment Agency for the Isle of Sheppey, the River Medway, Dartford to Allhallows and Whitstable to Margate from 1.30pm today.

Areas at risk of flooding include Sheerness, Minster, Queenborough, Leysdown on Sea, Sittingbourne, Faversham, the Isle of Grain, Aylesford, the Medway Towns, Lower Halstow, Middle Stoke, Lower Stoke, Crayford, Greenhithe, Northfleet, Gravesend, the North Kent Marshes, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Reculver, Marshside, St Nicholas at Wade, Birchington and Westgate on Sea.

Drivers are urged to approach Conduit Street in Faversham with caution, after reports of flooding near Bridge Road.

Flooding has also been reported in Gravesend and Rochester.

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