Gales and snow batter Britain as high winds fell trees and lift shed into neighbouring garden

Gales and snow caused disruption and battered parts of Britain as winds of up to 65mph swept through southern parts of England.

Police forces reported closed roads due to snow on Sunday, while others said they had been called to a number of fallen trees.

Strong winds in some of the more exposed parts of southern and western England led to damage on land and a dramatic rescue off the coast.

A fisherman was pulled out of rough seas near Salcombe in the early hours of Sunday morning after falling overboard.

He had been in the water for an hour and rescue crews say the outcome could have been very different if he wasn't wearing a lifejacket.

A garden shed was lifted and left broken apart in a neighbouring garden in Dorchester, Dorset.

Devon and Cornwall Police tweeted: "Police receiving exceptional number of calls from right across Devon and Cornwall re fallen trees across roads this morning due to the high winds. Please reduce speed and be vigilant when driving."

A couple in Southampton meanwhile told ITV Meridian of their narrow escape when a tree fell on their home, badly damaging the roof and back wall.

The tree landed just inches from where John and Joan Goodey were sitting in their lounge.

The aftermath of the tree fall at the Goodey home in Southampton. Credit: ITV Meridian

Kent County Council urged motorists to take care on the roads in “difficult conditions” as its highway teams worked to clear fallen trees as quickly as possible.

A home in the county town of Maidstone saw a felled tree in its back garden, while a large tree came down near homes in Haslemere, Surrey.

A tree came down in a garden in Bow Road, Wateringbury, Maidstone. Credit: @aliceodwyer
A large tree came down in Haslemere, Surrey. Credit: John Larking

The Queen Elizabeth II bridge across the Thames at the Dartford crossing was closed due to strong winds, while Highways England warned drivers of delays on the M25 as traffic was filtered into Kent using one of the tunnels which is usually used for Essex-bound traffic.

Essex Police said they had experienced “extremely high call demand” because of the weather and warned motorists to travel only where "absolutely necessary".

Wrapping on Grenfell Tower in London was dislodged as support group Grenfell United tweeted a warning.

The Woodhead Pass in the Pennines was closed because of snow and a collision, South Yorkshire Police said.

Leicestershire Police also ruled the fast lane of the M1 between junctions 22 and 23 "unsafe" due to snowfall.

Cars navigate Winnats Pass in the Peak District. Credit: Danny Lawson/PA

Not all vehicles were about to negotiate the area safely though.

A crashed car was left abandoned on the Woodhead Pass in the Peak District. Credit: PA

While for many, the weekend whiteout provided a chance to have some fun.

James Mason (left) and Niamh Billington enjoyed a snow ball fight in the Peak District. Credit: PA
Windle the dog plays in snow near Mam Tor in the Peak District, Derbyshire. Credit: PA

But officials were at pains to emphasise the dangers on the road as people ventured into snowy regions.

Kirkstone Pass in the Lake District was fully closed due to "hazardous weather conditions", said Cumbria Police.

The force added that motorists should take care with snow and ice reported in some parts of the county.

A gritter overturned in snowy conditions in Dumfries and Galloway, with the driver suffering only a minor injury when the vehicle came off the A76 near Mennock at around 8.20am.

What is in store for the weather in the coming days?

Snowy conditions in Blairingone, Fife. Credit: PA

After a slight reprieve in conditions expected on Monday, the wild weather is expected to make a return towards the middle of the week.

The Met Office has issued two further yellow weather warnings for wind, the first of which covers much of Northern Ireland, and will begin at 3pm on Tuesday and last until midnight.

Another is in place for much of England from around midnight on Wednesday until 3pm.

During the warning periods, across Northern Ireland there could be gusts of 60mph-70mph, with 50mph-55mph seen quite widely across England and 60mph-65mph in coastal areas.

A band of heavy rain will also push south-eastwards, and will be followed by some heavy showers during Tuesday and Wednesday.