Thousands of homes are without power and schools have been closed as the first named storm of the year hit UK shores.

Storm Austen brought severe conditions to parts of the south-west, with a gust of 76mph recorded at St Mary’s airport on the Isles of Scilly on Friday morning. Just before 11am, more than 16,000 homes in the south-west were without power, according to National Grid .

Dozens of schools across Cornwall were forced to open late, while others did not open at all.

Forecasters have put an additional amber weather warning for wind in place from Saturday into Sunday as the second named storm of the year, Boelo, heads in.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, the prime minister, Andy Burnham , warned: “We potentially are facing a winter of greater flooding, so it’s about recognising all of those risks and taking action.”

Andy Burnham speaking at a wildfires summit in Aintree, Liverpool, on Friday.…