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File photo of a post box covered in snow. Image: PA.
Royal Mail has suspended deliveries in some areas as Storm Eunice continues to wreak havoc.
Schools, roads and businesses have shut, with major travel disruption due to concerns over flying debris caused by gusts of up to 90mph because of Storm Eunice.
Homes have been left without power, while the Met Office issued two ultra rare “red” weather warnings – from 7am until midday along the coastline of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset as well as the south coast of Wales, and from 10am until 3pm over the East of England and London – due to the combination of high tides, strong winds and storm surge.
The postal delivery service has said it had no option but to stand down workers in areas where red warnings have been issued by the Met Office.
It said areas covered by amber warnings are being reviewed.
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “In areas for which the Met Office has issued a red warning, we have had no choice but to suspend deliveries and close our delivery offices.
“In areas covered by an amber warning, we are assessing risk based on local knowledge, and will keep services running where possible.
“We will be reviewing the situation throughout the day, while continuing to prioritise the safety of our staff and customers.”
Attention is already turning to the impact beyond Friday afternoon, with further disruption to travel and more weather warnings issued for Saturday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter: “We should all follow the advice and take precautions to keep safe.”
Amid the chaos – with swirling gusts felling trees, tossing debris in the air, and damaging homes – emergency services were forced to issue warnings for people to stay away from the worst affected areas.
Roy Stokes from the Environment Agency said it was “probably the most stupid thing you can do” to travel to the most exposed places, amid reports of people climbing on to seawalls and swimming in the sea.
Winds of 122mph have been provisionally recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight, which, if verified, would be the highest ever recorded in England.
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