Drivers have been stranded in the snow for hours, rail passengers told not to travel and thousands left without power as Storm Gerrit hits the UK.

A major incident has been declared on the A9 in the Scottish Highlands, where a queue of cars is stuck in thick snow.

Travel trouble has also hit the railways thanks to the weather, with people hoping to travel on London North Eastern Railway (LNER) urged not to attempt their journeys.

Storm Gerrit hits UK – follow latest

Avanti West Coast also told people not to try to travel north of Preston today, as flooding between Lockerbie and Carlisle has blocked all rail lines.

About 18,500 properties have been left without power in Scotland due to stormy conditions that have been “more severe than forecast”, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said.

The company warned some could face 48 hours without power.

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Weather warnings for wind, rain and, further north, snow, covered much of the UK on Wednesday, with some yellow warnings continuing into Thursday.

Five flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, are active in England, while in Scotland 15 flood warnings have been issued.

The highest rainfall was recorded in the Great Langdale Valley in the Lake District, where 77.6mm of rain fell – nearly half the usual 178mm monthly rainfall for December, the Met Office said.

The fastest recorded wind gusts so far are 86mph at Inverbervie on the north-east coast of Scotland, 84mph at Fair Isle and 83mph at Capel Curig, north Wales, the forecaster said.

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