Storm Eunice: West Berkshire and North Hampshire schools shut as further red warning is issued for the south east
6pm: Power cuts remain in parts of North Hampshire, such as Baughurst. SSE says it aims to restore the power by 11pm tomorrow evening.
5pm: Aldworth Road in the parish of Basildon is currently closed from its junction with Bethesda Street and Emery Acres. The closure has been put in place because a power cable has fallen onto a tree across the carriageway.
The council said it has been reported to SSE. Blue light access cannot be maintained.
2.30pm: A tree is currently blocking the road in Chapel Row. An earlier fallen tree in Hampstead Norreys, close to the Living Rainforest, appears to have been cleared by quick thinking locals.
Bucklebury Alley is also blocked, by the footpath to The Ridge.
Newtown Road, by St Gabriel's School, is also currently blocked.
1.30pm: The Household Waste Recycling Centres at Newbury and Padworth have been shut this afternoon.
The decision was taken to ensure the safety of staff and residents.
The sites say they both hope to be reopen as usual tomorrow morning.
12:10pm: A large tree has come down in West Mills, Newbury, blocking the tow path. Resident Yuri Pasea, who took these photos, told Newburytoday: "I just saw a Newbury icon, the giant conifer in West Mills, fall in the wind."
Mike Parry has just sent us this photo of the damage caused by the storm in his Newbury garden. We hope everyone is staying safe as the storm passes through the district.
12pm: Roads update: Trees are currently blocking Racecourse Road and Oxford Street in Newbury.
A number of roof tiles have also fallen off at Tesco on Northfield Road, right by the entrance to the shop.
11.10am: The Newbury Showground testing site has been closed today. A spokesperson for West Berkshire Council said that all in-person PCR test sites in the south east had been closed today.
TRAVEL UPDATE: WBC's Connect community bus services have been suspended due to Storm Eustice. These are Service 5,5A,5C and Service 41, 44, 47.
11am: Beale Park will stay closed today due to the storms.
10.55am: Storm Eunice is whipping up the waters on Victoria Park pond this morning.
10.35am: Power cuts are now affecting parts of the district as the wind increases. Hundreds of people are without power as Storm Eunice makes her presence felt across the area.
The SSEN website is reporting issues in parts of central Newbury, Hungerford, Lambourn, Bradfield, Chilton Foliat, Eastbury, Wickham, Stockcross, Speen, Marsh Benham, Pangbourne, Basildon, Newtown, Newtown Common and Baughurst.
Some issues are expected to be fixed within hours, while others are not expecting to be back on until tomorrow evening.
10.30: Fallen tree blocking the Andover Road in Highclere, close to Westridge.
8.40am: The Royal Berkshire Hospital, in Reading, remains open for all appointments today. A spokesperson said: "The Royal Berkshire Hospital is open and services are running as normal. If patients have appointments and feel they can attend safely then we are asking them to do so. If they don’t feel they can attend safely, please let us know and we can rearrange appointments."
8.30am: John Rankin schools and Spurcroft, among schools closed across West Berkshire and North Hampshire this morning as the districts brace themselves for Storm Eunice.
8am: Travel update: Just a reminder if you didn't see it earlier - Rail services disrupted across West Berkshire. GWR states: Reading-Newbury services will not run, however an hourly Reading – Bedwyn service will operate calling at all stations.
7.55am: Thatcham market is cancelled today due to the severe weather.
7.45am: Further school closures in North Hampshire as a red warning is issued for Hampshire for the largest storm to hit the UK in three decades. These include Woolton Hill Junior School, St Thomas's Infant School, St Martin's Primary School and Tadley Community Primary School.
The red warning issued for London and the south east is the first time that has happened since the warning alert system was put in place by the Met Office. The strongest winds are expected in the coming hours.
7.35am: More schools announcing they are now closed today too, including The Downs, where remote learning will take place on Teams.
GWR is urging anyone who needs to travel to check their trains first.
West Berkshire Council urges residents to "stay indoors as much as possible" today.
7.30am: Kennet School is also now closed. A message on the school website said: "Having conducted a full risk assessment of the school site, travel conditions and staff availability to provide adequate supervision, the safety of our pupils and staff are our highest priority and we have therefore decided to close the school today. Education will, however, continue (subject to power cuts) and pupils have been set work remotely on Frog via the Remote Learning button on their dashboard or as Homework."
7.25am: St Bartholomew's School also shut - lessons to be held online. In an email to parents the school said: "We have carried out a further risk assessment of our school site, in light of the changing and worsening weather forecast, and have taken into account the advice from West Berkshire Council which includes: 'Hazards expected include flying debris which could result in danger to life, damage to buildings with roofs blown off and power lines brought down, fallen branches and some uprooted trees, transport issues, the potential for prolonged power cuts'.
"As a result, I have taken the decision to close the school today (Friday 18th February). Work will be set by staff for lessons through Satchel:One.
"This is not a decision I have taken lightly, but the safety of our staff and students is paramount, and we have particular concerns about the safety of students travelling home from school.
"Please stay safe during the storm today and enjoy a well-deserved half term break from tomorrow."
7.20am TRAVEL UPDATE: Rail services disrupted across West Berkshire. GWR states: Reading-Newbury services will not run, however an hourly Reading – Bedwyn service will operate calling at all stations.
6.45am: More West Berkshire schools have announced they will not open today due to Storm Eunice.
At 6.45am today (Friday) the following schools were closed:
Bradfield Church of England Primary School
Brookfields Special School
Beenham School
Fir Tree Primary School and Nursery
Hermitage Primary School
Inkpen Primary School
Mortimer St Johns Church of England Infant School
Mortimer St Marys Church of England Junior School
Speenhamland Primary School
Springfield Primary School
St Finian's Catholic Primary School
St John The Evangelist Infant and Nursery School
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
St Nicolas Church of England Junior School
Thatcham Park CE Primary School
The Castle School
Trinity School (Academy)
The Willink
The Clere School, Burghclere
The Hurst School
Newbury College and University College Newbury also announced last night that they will be closed, with learning taking place online.
In North Hampshire, secondary school The Clere in Burghclere will also be closed.
It said on Facebook: "Further to our previous communication we are sorry to say that we have made the very hard decision to close the school on Friday 18th February due to the developing high winds forecast for our area throughout the day.
"Due to our location we are particularly prone to power cuts and we have concerns about the uncertainty that even if it is safe for the children to get to school in the morning it may not be safe for them to return home.
"The site also has a high chance of flying debris and falling trees.
"Please look out for a message in the morning about remote learning for your child."
A further red warning was issued for London and the south east, including Hampshire, last night - in place from 10am until 3pm today.
A red warning was already in effect across northern areas of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and the southern coast of Wales around the Bristol Channel between the hours of 7am and noon.
Some homes across Baughurst and Tadley were without power overnight and this morning, but most have been restored now.
