Storm Ciarán live: Significant disruption and 1.2 million without power in France

Follow the Guardian’s live feed on the Storm battering the UK and Europe. 

Winds of almost 80mph and very heavy rain have battered parts of south-west England as Storm Ciarán brings disruption to swathes of the UK.

Hundreds of schools have been shut, roads closed, flights and bus and rail routes disrupted with “danger to life” amber warnings in place for wind across southern England.

By 7.30am on Thursday the Environment Agency had issued 65 flood warnings for England and 156 flood alerts. Natural Resources Wales warned river levels in the far south-west of the country could be the highest ever recorded. Around 10,000 homes were without power in south-west England.

Latest updates here