BLOWS ENCOUNTERS

Storm brings floods, power cuts & chaos

- BY NADA FARHOUD Environment Editor

STORM Benjamin unleashed havoc yesterday, with 7Omph winds and heavy rain causing flash floods, power cuts and travel chaos.

Yellow warnings covered swathes of southern and eastern England and Wales, with up to two inches of rain falling in some places.

More than 15 flood alerts were in place across England, from Yorkshire to Norfolk and sections of the Kent, Sussex and Somerset coast.

The Met Office reported gusts of up to 60mph, with 65-70mph near coasts.

Before it hit the UK, more than 100,000 houses were left without electricity in France.

Once it crossed the Channel, Benjamin took down an overhead line in Suffolk and knocked out power to more than 1,000 homes around Eye, Stoke Ash and Southolt.

The Met Office had warned that more people could face power cuts.

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