Events cancelled as storm closes in

Blenheim Palace is the latest visitor attraction to call off its Christmas events on Saturday due to "adverse weather conditions".

Storm Bert is set to strike the UK, with yellow wind and rain warnings in the south on Saturday and into Sunday.

The palace, in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, is closing the the light trial around its landscaped gardens, the Christmas market, and the ice rink that it introduced for the first time last week.

Organisers are "monitoring the forecast" for Sunday and have made no further announcement as yet.

They apologised for any inconvenience caused and offered ticket holders the chance to rebook on another day.

Other events cancelled in the south include Christmas lights switch-ons in Dorchester, Romsey, Christchurch, New Milton, and Odiham.

• Storm Bert brings UK amber weather warnings and travel disruption

The Maidenhead event is still going ahead, though the fireworks have been cancelled and the festive market and entertainment is being moved indoors.

Holly Clarke, who will be representing Stand Out for Autism, a charity which is showcasing their "sensory bus" at the event, told the BBC: "We have not let Storm Bert cancel our festive fun today at all."

Portsmouth's We Shine lights festival has also cancelled its outdoor installations, although the indoor ones are still going ahead.

Gusts of up to 70 mph are expected to strike the southern coast.

In Reading, the planned installation of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge on the A33 Relief Road over the weekend has has been postponed. Resurfacing work had also been planned.

It means the A33 Relief Road, which was due to shut during the works, will be open as usual.

South Western Railway said due to the forecasts of "severe weather", and "extreme rainfall and strong winds", trains would be running at reduced speed on all lines, meaning possible delays and disruptions until midday on Monday.

It asked passengers to only travel west of Basingstoke if their journeys are essential.

Services between Exeter and London Waterloo will start and finish at Basingstoke, with journey times longer between Salisbury and Exeter, and between Bournemouth and Weymouth, due to speed restrictions.

All services will start later than usual on Sunday and Monday because of safety inspections.

In Hampshire on Saturday morning there was a serious collision on the A34 at Kings Worthy involving a tree. "Significant delays" were expected.

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