Storm Katie: Clean up begins after 100mph gusts wreak havoc across UK

The trail of destruction left by Storm Katie led to a miserable Easter Monday for the thousands of Britons left without power, facing flood warnings or travel cancellations. At the height of the storm gusts hit over 100mph but it improved over the afternoon of 28 March.

This allowed workmen to begin removing the felled trees, restoring power lines and cleaning up the debris from the vicious storm. Work also began to recover a crane which collapsed in Greenwich, south-east London.

At the height of the winds thousands of homes were left without power. After issuing a yellow alert, by mid-afternoon, South Electric Power Distribution said it had managed to restore electricity to over 100,000 homes, but almost 9,000 remained off supply.

About 19,000 of households covered by UK Power Network in the south east of England were also left without electricity and the company said it was working hard to restore it, while Western Power Distribution said more than 4,000 homes were without left power across the Midlands, South West and Wales.

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency issued 23 flood warnings across England and 132 flood alerts were also in place. A warning means that flooding is expected and immediate action is required while an alert means it is possible.

Both of London's major airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, were also forced to cancel flights as the result of the storm. "There are delays and some cancellations," Heathrow said, while Gatwick warned of road disruption around the airport and advised passengers to set off early.

Train companies also that trees and other obstructions had blocked multiple lines, causing major disruptions. After being forced to close for a short time, the Port of Dover was forced to close temporarily.

After it reopened P&O Ferries warned of delays and advised travellers to set off early to ensure they arrived on time. Ferry services between the Channel Islands and the UK were also cancelled after the storm, but later reopened.

On the roads, the QE2 Bridge, the southbound crossing over the River Thames at Dartford, was also reopened, but congestion continued in the surrounding area. It was a similar story with the M48 Severn Crossing, which connects England and Wales.