Storm Austen brings power cuts and travel disruption to southern UK

Storm Austen battered southern England and Wales, leaving more than 15,000 homes without power and disrupting travel; gusts of up to 135 km/h were recorded in Jersey. In Brighton, part of the West Pier, which opened in 1866 and closed to the public in 1975, collapsed into the sea. Fallen trees blocked roads and railway lines, and some ferry services to France were cancelled; the National Grid said power had been restored to more than 60,000 properties. Another storm, Boelo, is forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain on Saturday, with amber wind warnings for parts of Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland.