Storm Hannah: Gusts make Wales 'windiest place in the UK'

Gusts of up to 82mph (132km/h) have battered the UK as Storm Hannah caused power cuts and disrupted travel, with Wales the windiest part of the country.

Aberdaron in Gwynedd saw the strongest winds while a gust of 78mph (126km/h) was recorded at Pembrey Sands in Carmarthenshire on Saturday.

Wales saw the majority of power cuts, with more than 2,000, before a Met Office wind warning ended at 15:00 BST.

Major routes such as the M48 motorway and A55 were affected by winds.

More than 2,000 properties were cut off overnight with Western Power Distribution, which serves south and west Wales, saying most of its 1,700 affected customers were in Wales.

The worst affected areas included Builth Wells and Haverfordwest and power was restored to most by 11:00.

Nearly all Scottish Power customers in north and mid Wales now have power while there are some power cuts at Western Power properties in Milford Haven.

There was disruption on the roads as major routes were shut with strong winds closing the M48 Severn Bridge near Chepstow, A548 Flintshire Bridge in Connah's Quay and the A55 near Holyhead. All roads have since reopened.

Part of the A465 Heads of the Valley road is also closed between Abergavenny and Brynmawr for the latest phase of its £800m upgrade.

Fallen trees caused disruption on trains going between south Wales and the north and Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil. Both lines have now been cleare.

Rail travel was already disrupted due to the closure of the main line between south Wales and London for engineering works in the Severn Tunnel.

Meanwhile the Conwy Valley line in north Wales remains closed after being hit by last month's Storm Gareth, with buses replacing trains between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Natural Resources Wales have warned about two flood alerts in Powys, one on the River Severn near Caersws while the other is on the River Dovey near Machynlleth.

A 100-mile charity bike ride from Cardiff to Tenby on Saturday was postponed as organisers thought it was unsafe to continue with the annual CARTEN100 because of the severe weather.

The Met Office has said Storm Hannah is gradually blowing itself out after battering Wales, with winds moving eastwards.

"It's much drier and brighter now with just a few showers around," said forecaster Simon Partridge.