Powerful winds reaching 111mph have been recorded in Cornwall leaving thousands of homes without power as Storm Austen batters the UK .

The Met Office has issued several yellow and amber weather warnings for wind and rain over the next few days as two named storms hit.

Strong winds reaching 70mph are still expected to hit south-west England and Wales today, with a yellow warning in place until 5pm. Another yellow warning for wind has also been issued for south of England and the Midlands until 9pm, with the Met Office warning gusts could reach 55mph.

Two yellow warnings for wind and one for rain have been issued as storm Austen hits the UK (Met Office)

An amber weather warning was in place across Cornwall and parts of Devon between 3am and 10am on Friday alongside a “danger to life” warning along sea fronts and coastal roads due to large waves and thrown beach debris.

More than 9,000 home in Cornwall have no electricity, roads have been closed due to fallen trees and many schools have shut for the day.…