HS2 Alternative 'Will Cause Years Of Gridlock'

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

Railway services between the north and south of England will be crippled by 14 years of weekend closures if HS2 is abandoned for an alternative, ministers will claim this week.

The warning will be part of a Coalition "business case" for the high-speed rail link published on Tuesday in a bid to fight off critics of the increasingly controversial project.

It will paint a picture of chaos for commuters if other investments are chosen instead of HS2.

The closest alternative would require 2,770 weekend closures - equivalent to 144,000 hours - on the East Coast Mainline, Midland Mainline and West Coast Mainline, the report will say.

That will increase a typical journey from London to Leeds by two hours and 10 minutes to more than four-and-a-half hours overall.

Map of the HS2 route

The Government has drawn the evidence from a study by Network Rail and transport consultant Atkins. It also finds that houses and businesses would have to be demolished.

A Government source said: "We need to do something because our railways are nearly full but the alternative to HS2 is a patch and mend job that would cause 14 years of gridlock, hellish journeys and rail replacement buses.

"The three main routes to the north would be crippled and the economy would be damaged."

The strong language is a response to heavy criticism of HS2 - including from the Labour Party which is no longer promising to support the project.

The party wants to introduce a "cancellation trigger" to the legislation, forcing the Government to reveal if total costs rise about £50bn. Ministers may support the amendment.

Labour's role is seen as key after David Cameron admitted that "multi-year, multi-parliament infrastructure projects … can't go ahead without all-party support".

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Phone-Hacking Trial: Coulson And Brooks Arrive

The Prime Minister's former director of communications, Andy Coulson, and ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks have arrived for the first day of the phone-hacking trial.

The two former editors of the News of the World face charges linked to phone hacking and alleged corrupt payments to public officials.

Rebekah Brooks arrives at the Old Bailey with her husband Charlie

The Old Bailey trial, which is expected to call 100 witnesses and will involve 22 barristers, could take up to six months.

It is the first trial to result from the phone-hacking scandal, which saw the closure of the News of the World two years ago.

Former Sun and News of the World editor, Brooks, 45, of Churchill, Oxfordshire, is accused of conspiring to intercept communications by illegally access voicemails between October 3, 2000 and August 9, 2006.

She is also charged with two counts of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office linked to alleged inappropriate payments to public officials - one between January 1, 2004 and January 31, 2012, and the other between February 9, 2006 and October 16, 2008.

She faces another two allegations of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

One of those is with her former personal assistant Cheryl Carter, 49, with whom she is alleged to have conspired to remove seven boxes of material from the News International archive.

Brooks' personal assistant Cheryl Carter

The second relates to allegations that Brooks, her race horse-trainer husband Charlie Brooks and former head of security at News International Mark Hanna tried to conceal documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police officers who were investigating allegations of phone hacking and corruption of public officials in relation to the News of the World and The Sun newspapers.

Coulson, 45, from Preston in Kent, is charged with conspiracy to intercept communications in the course of their transmission by illegally accessing voicemails.

The Prime Minister's former spin doctor, Andy Coulson, outside court

He is also facing two allegations that he conspired with the tabloid's former royal editor Clive Goodman, 56, and persons unknown to commit misconduct in public office

News of the World head of news Ian Edmondson, 44, from Raynes Park, southwest London, and the tabloid's ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, 73, from Woodford Green, Essex, are also accused of conspiracy to illegally access voicemails between October 3 2000 and August 9 2006.

Goodman, from Addlestone in Surrey, also faces two charges of committing misconduct in public office.

The jury was selected at the court with the judge telling them: "It's critical to the jury system ... that a jury takes the case free from any preconceptions. From now on you do not discuss the case with anyone."

The prosecution is expected to begin later this week.

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Storm Causes Major Headache For Commuters

Rail passengers left stranded by hurricane-strength winds have criticised train companies, claiming they were not kept fully informed.

Hundreds of services were cancelled as a severe storm battered the South and the South East, felling more than 200 trees.

The strong winds also caused damage to overhead power lines, with parts of the rail network so badly affected that several operators, including East Coast, Virgin and East Midlands, urged customers heading to or from London not to travel at all on Monday.

Passengers at London Waterloo were going nowhere fast

Network Rail, the company responsible for Britain's rail infrastructure, defended its response to the storm and the decision to cancel early morning services, saying: "Safety remains our top priority."

However, Graham Collins, who was among those trying to get from Guildford, Surrey, to the capital, told Sky News: "The problem is that you're drip fed information. It's just frustrating."

A mother who was attempting to travel to north Wales with her son for a half term walking holiday said: "It would have been better if there was more accurate information on the internet. The people at the station are doing the best they can but I overheard one of them saying the information on their websites is inaccurate anyway."

A tree on the tracks between Farnham and Alton. Pic: Network Rail/Twitter

Dominic Tuohy, a South African who was stuck at Ipswich train station, added: "It's ridiculous. In my country we manage to get around (any severe weather) but here there's a bit of wind ... and everything gets closed down."

Many train companies announced cancellations or suspensions to services as early as Sunday, as the storm, dubbed St Jude, raced across the Atlantic.

However, asked whether they had overreacted to the risk posed by the storm, Prime Minister David Cameron said:  "Everyone has to act on the basis of the evidence that they are given.

A London bus was hit by a falling tree in Haringey. Pic: Ben Hewis/Twitter

"Afterwards we'll be able to look back and see whether people made the right decisions but right now what matters is listening to the evidence, working together and getting things back to normal."

The strong winds and heavy rain also caused disruption on the roads, with a number of major routes affected.

Both Severn estuary crossings were closed, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and the Sheppey Crossing in Kent.

A lorry overturned on the M11 in Essex, while the A2 was shut in west Kent because of the number of fallen trees.

The clean up begins in London. Pic: madebymartha/madebymartha/Twitter

Countless local roads were also closed, as emergency services and council crews battled to remove fallen trees and other debris.

At Heathrow airport, about 130 flights were cancelled, although Gatwick said it was operating a "near normal service".

Rough seas whipped up by the strong winds also caused cancellations to ferry services, including English Channel, Irish Sea and Penzance-Isles of Scilly crossings.

Brittany Ferries also cancelled services between Plymouth and Roscoff, Poole and Cherbourg and Portsmouth and Bilbao.

Among the transport operators which continue to experience disruption are:

Trains

:: Stansted Express services are suspended until further notice.

:: Southern Railway has reopened most of its routes, although the Tonbridge to Redhill line is still blocked by fallen trees.

:: South West Trains is operating a "significantly reduced timetable" for the remainder of the day and asked passengers not to travel. There is no service between Weymouth and Bournemouth, Eastleigh and Fareham via Botley and Hedge End, Lymington and Brockenhurst, Ascot and Aldershot via Camberley, Aldershot and Guildford via Wanborough, Shepperton and Fulwell, Virginia Water and Weybridge via Chertsey or on the Hounslow Loop via Chiswick and Brentford.

:: Southeastern Railway has resumed service on most of its lines. However, tracks between Deal and Dover, Bat and Ball and Sevenoaks, Eynsford and Shoreham and Otford and Maidstone East remain closed.

:: East Coast Trains has no service south of Peterborough, with no trains running in or out of London King's Cross. There is "no firm indication" about when services will be resumed and passengers are advised not to travel.

:: East Midlands Trains has advised customers travelling to or from London not to attempt their journeys. It has suspended services between Bedford and London St Pancras for the rest of the day because of fallen trees.

:: London Midland has an "extremely limited service" between Northampton, Milton Keynes, Watford and London Euston but urged passengers not to travel into London where possible.

:: Virgin Trains services to and from London Euston are subject to delays and cancellations.

:: Greater Anglia Trains has suspended services on most routes, with customers advised not to travel for the rest of the day.

:: First Capital Connect has advised passengers not to travel, warning that some lines, including London to Luton, may remain closed all day.

:: C2C says all services are suspended between Shoeburyness and London Fenchurch Street.

:: London Overground services have been part suspended, although trains are running between Highbury and Islington and New Cross/New Cross Gate, between Euston and Watford Junction and between New Cross Gate and West Croydon/Crystal Palace.

:: London Underground trains continue to experience minor delays due to part suspensions on the District and Piccadilly lines.

Planes

:: Heathrow airport is experiencing some disruption following earlier cancellations, with passengers advised to contact their airline before travelling.

Ferries

:: Brittany Ferries has announced cancellations between Plymouth and Roscoff, Poole and Cherbourg and Portsmouth and Bilbao.

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Energy Bills: Costs-Charges Gap 'Doubles'

The energy regulator has highlighted a doubling in the gap between what customers are paying for electricity and gas and suppliers' costs over the past 12 months.

Ofgem figures indicated average net margins more than doubled between October 2012 and October 2013 from £45 to £95 per household on a rolling month-on-month basis, while wholesale prices rose by just 1.7%.

The wholesale cost - what energy firms pay to generate electricity and produce gas - has been cited by the firms as a core reason for the recent spike in household bills by an average 9% ahead of this winter.

The so-called big six companies collectively made profits of £3.7bn in 2012.

But energy industry sources insisted each company's costs were complicated by when energy was bought - often two years in advance to ensure supply.

Firms employ varying hedging strategies - essentially financial bets on wholesale prices - in a bid to limit their exposure to the trend of sharply rising prices.

Bosses of the big six are due to appear before the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee on Tuesday to explain hikes in bills that many politicians have claimed will force people to chose between "heating and eating".

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said that it was up to the companies to justify their charges to consumers.

"It is for the energy companies to explain the decisions they have taken around bills to their customers," the spokesman said.

The average energy bill breakdown. Pic: Ofgem

Ofgem pointed out that wholesale costs were now rising for this current winter - by 8% for gas and 13% for electricity.

Nevertheless, its analysis of the wholesale costs versus profit margins sparked an immediate backlash from the industry while Platts, a provider of energy industry information, suggested near-term energy costs were at a record high during the summer.

Energy bills and the battle for the consumer has sparked a febrile game of political brinkmanship since Ed Miliband announced Labour would freeze prices for two years at the party's annual conference.

David Cameron responded by announcing last week that he would roll back green taxes, which account for £112 of the average fuel bill each year.

The Liberal Democrat response has been furious, given environmental issues played high on the  Liberal Democrats' election manifesto, and they have refused to give ground on green levies. However, Nick Clegg has yet to suggest an alternative.

Simon Hughes, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has suggested a rebate of £50 on energy bills for low-income households be included in the Chancellor's autumn statement.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander suggested the Liberal Democrats would be willing to shift some of the burden of the levies - which cost households an average £112 a year - from energy bills to general taxation.

Labour's shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint called for a rethink of the biggest levy, the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO), which she described as expensive, bureaucratic and failing to reach those who really need it.

The ECO scheme operated by the big six power companies adds £47 annually to the average bill to pay for energy-efficiency measures like insulation and new boilers for households in fuel poverty.

A report by the IPPR think tank suggested that 1.3 million of those in greatest need have not received help because £434m - 80% of the total £540m budget - was being targeted at homes that are not fuel-poor.

Labour has pledged to "reset the market" if it wins the next election and freeze bills for 20 months - a policy Mr Cameron has described as a "con."

He has pointed to growth in smaller competitors in the market - insisting there is value in switching now the big six have some rivalry.

Speaking at an event at the Mini plant in Oxford, Mr Cameron said: "I'm frustrated about the big six. I want to see the big 60, I want to see many more energy companies.

"Since we came to office, there have been eight new companies come in and start in terms of selling electricity and gas. That's helping competition."

One of those companies, Co-op Energy, said today that it had tripled customer numbers in a year.

The fledgling gas and electricity supplier, which recently called on larger rivals to put customers before profits, saw its total six monthly sales increase seven-fold.

It raised its tariffs by 4.5%, half the rate of its bigger competitors.

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Storm: Three People Killed By Falling Trees

Three people have been killed by falling trees in the worst storm to hit Britain in a decade.

Bethany Freeman, 17, died after a 30ft tree fell onto a static caravan in which she was sleeping in Kent.

Paramedics and firefighters attended the scene in Hever, Edenbridge, but were unable to save the teenager, known as "Gia" to her friends.

The caravan in which Bethany Freeman was sleeping when it was hit by a tree

Neighbours also tried to rescue the Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School pupil. One described someone coming to her door, asking for a chainsaw.

Her mother and brother, who were sleeping in a neighbouring caravan, were said to be deeply traumatised by the accident.

The family had been living in the mobile homes for a year while outbuildings on the grounds were transformed into a new house.

Her driving instructor Neil Chapman turned up at the address unaware of the tragedy and said: "I can't believe it. What a shock. She was a super kid. She was a great girl, good fun ... her family must be so devastated. I can't believe it."

A man in his 50s, from Harrow, north-west London, was killed after a tree fell on his car whilst he was driving along Lower High Street in Watford.

A police officer at the scene, who did not want to be named, said: "This is a major artery into Watford and we were lucky it was school half-term. If it wasn't we'd have had a lot more traffic coming through here."

The body of the storm's third victim was found at an address in Hounslow, west London, which was devastated after a tree struck a gas main which led to an explosion.

A map showing the trail of destruction and disruption of the storm

One woman was taken to hospital, and a second was still missing following the blast in Bath Road, which destroyed three houses and damaged two others.

Fire crews rescued a dog from one of the homes and some 12 people were evacuated from neighbouring premises as a precaution.

A 14-year-old boy, named locally as Dylan Alkins, is also feared dead after being swept out to sea on Sunday in Newhaven, East Sussex.

Up to 600,000 homes suffered power cuts as hurricane-speed winds of up to 100mph swept across the South West, South, South East, the Midlands and the East of England.

People climb over a fallen tree in Shepherd's Hill, north London

Power has been restored at 320,000 homes, however 270,000 are still without.

The Dungeness nuclear power station in Kent automatically shut down both reactors after power to the site was cut off.

Gusts of 99mph were recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight, according to the Met Office, while the Environment Agency said some 16 flood warnings and 134 flood alerts were in place.

Winds topped 80mph along southern coastal areas and became turbulent inland reaching 81mph in Portland, Dorset, 75mph in Yeovilton in Somerset and 79mph at Andrewsfield in Essex.

A tree crashes through several homes in Hounslow Pic: London Fire Brigade

Some 50mm of rainfall in 12 hours was recorded in Otterbourne in Hampshire and about 44mm in Cardiff.

Fierce winds overturned a double-decker into a field in Coram Street, Hadleigh in Suffolk, injuring the driver and several passengers.

The driver, a man in his 40s, was initially trapped and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

A police spokesman said: "He was suffering from neck pain, had taken a bash to his head and was in and out of consciousness.

A bus carrying passengers is blown over onto its side in Hadleigh, Suffolk

Whitehall was closed in both directions in Westminster, London, after a crane collapsed onto the Cabinet Office which was evacuated.

A helter-skelter at Clacton Pier in Essex was blown over by the storm, but did not fall into the sea.

Rush-hour commuters suffered chaos on the roads and train network, with falling trees and debris blocking roads and covering railway tracks.

Network Rail said: "Trains will not be allowed to run until the worst of the storm has passed and engineers have been able to check railway lines ... branches or any other debris which may have blown onto or damaged the infrastructure."

Scaffolding has been blown down in Francis Road, Leyton Pic: Mark Davies

Several London Underground and train services were suspended, the port of Dover in Kent temporarily shut after gusts of 65 knots were recorded in the area, and more than 130 flights at Heathrow Airport were cancelled because of the weather.

The Environment Agency said there were 11 flood warnings in place across the South West, the Midlands and the East of England. There were also 124 flood alerts telling people to be prepared for flooding.

It has teams working to minimise river flood risk, clearing debris from streams and unblocking culverts.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who held talks with Government departments and agencies at the weekend to ensure they were prepared for the impact of the storm, said the loss of life as a result of St Jude's storm was "hugely regrettable".

A tree crashes onto a London bus Pic: @Casawa2011

He said the Government was working to make sure that the emergency services were able to do as much as possible to provide assistance.

Mr Cameron said: "Any injury or loss of life is hugely regrettable. We have to make sure the emergency services can act as fast as they can to help people."

:: Send us your photos and videos of the storm

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Live Updates: Britain Hit By Ferocious Storm

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Energy Poll: Majority Oppose Green Levies

A large majority of consumers oppose green levies on household energy bills and support the Prime Minister's plans to "roll them back", according to a new poll.

The survey found that 60% said they are against the green taxes which add an average £112 to annual bills, compared to 18% who supported them.

Some 61% said they would support the repeal of some of the levies, against 11% who would not.

Of the 1,000 people questioned, 40% prefer David Cameron's approach to the issue, 33% support Labour leader Ed Miliband, who is promising a price freeze and 7% back Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who has indicated he will fight to protect the green taxes.

Some 35% said Mr Miliband's plan for a 20-month freeze on prices following the 2015 general election would help keep the cost of bills down, but 54% said that energy companies would get round it by raising prices before or after the freeze period.

Four of the Big Six energy firms have raised their prices so far

The Survation poll for the Mail on Sunday revealed almost three-quarters (72%) believe energy prices will affect the way they vote in the general election.

It found more people blame the energy companies (59%) than either the current government (15%) or the previous Labour administration (15%) for the spiralling cost of gas and electricity.

The survey came as energy minister Greg Barker promised to "come down like a ton of bricks" on energy firms which are stockpiling cash from customers' direct debits.

Unless customers ask for the money back, energy companies are able to hold on to sums from monthly payments in excess of the amount owed for power used, and are able to earn interest on the money while it is sitting in their accounts.

Industry observers believe the total held could be as high as £2bn.

The Big Six suppliers are being summoned to talks with ministers about the issue, and Whitehall sources told the Mail on Sunday they could face fines or be encouraged to pay customers interest on the money.

Mr Barker told the paper: "Customers will rightly feel outraged that they signed up to direct debit payments for cheap tariffs but instead find their cash stockpiled.

"We need to stamp this out now and energy firms must come clean on how much cash they are sitting on. If we find serious abuse, rest assured we will come down on them like a ton of bricks."

An Npower spokesman said the company automatically refunds customers with over £60 credit.

A Scottish Power spokesman said it pays a customer £1 for every full multiple of £33 above a minimum credit value of £100 - to the maximum payout of £12 for a credit balance of £496.

An SSE spokesman said if customers are more than £100 in credit, they are automatically refunded the credit back to their bank account.

A British Gas spokesman said: "The amount of time customers are in debit far outweighs the amount of time customers are in credit."

And an EDF spokesman said: "Monthly direct debits are the cheapest way for people to pay their bills."

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Miller Redpath: Body Found In Back Garden

Police searching for a missing teenager have found a body in his overgrown back garden.

Public schoolboy Miller Redpath, 18, went missing from his family home in Wenhaston in Suffolk in August.

Suffolk Police said an officer went to the house on Thursday as part of their inquiries and found the body during a search of the garden.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out, however the cause of death remains unknown, police said in a statement.

"At this stage the death is still being treated as unexplained," the statement said.

"Officers have not yet been able to identify the deceased and further tests are required, however early indications suggest that it is the body of 18-year-old Miller Redpath.

"Further searches are taking place at the property and specialist trained officers continue to support Miller's mother at this difficult time."

The discovery comes after Mr Redpath's mother made an emotional appeal for information about her son's disappearance.

"I think he went out purposefully to do something, in order to return shortly, and something went horribly wrong," Anastasia Miller said earlier this month.

"Everything was on track for him as he was doing well at school, he was thinking of London University, had lots of friends and I just don't understand what happened," she added.

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William: England Team Can Inspire The Nation

The Duke of Cambridge says the England football team could inspire the nation as British Olympians and Paralympians did at London 2012.

Speaking at the Football Association's 150th anniversary gala, Prince William, who is the FA president, said: "Our national players are role models for millions of young people and I think we need to give those highly pressured and driven players the support and training they need to live up to their rightly exalted status.

"We were as a nation so proud of our Team GB athletes at the Olympics and Paralympics, for their success on the field but also for the way they conducted themselves in interviews and with their competitors.

"It is perfectly possible to say the same about our national teams - they are good people, ambitious for success and to a man and woman aware of their status as role models."

Dozens of dignitaries including FIFA boss Sepp Blatter attended the gala

The gala event was staged at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London, the site where the founding fathers of English football met in 1863.

As well as congratulating Roy Hodgson's England on reaching next summer's World Cup finals in Brazil, William also praised FA chairman Greg Dyke's commission to look into improving the fortunes of the national side.

"I am glad to see that, under the new chairman and commission, there is renewed vigour to improve the competitive quality of our national game, for all our sakes.

"But I would also encourage us to make sure we retain sportsmanship at the heart of this energetic drive for success.

"Regrettably, Her Majesty's reign includes only one time that England won the World Cup, but I know that Greg and Roy are trying to make up for lost time now."

The Prince is president of the FA

William said he was "heartened" to see how seriously the FA and other organisations are trying to stamp out racism and discrimination in the game, but said there is "sadly more work to do".

His comments came after Manchester City's Yaya Toure complained of fans making monkey noises during his team's midweek Champions League victory over CSKA Moscow in Russia.

England manager Roy Hodgson hailed William as a "tremendous supporter" of the national side when he took his turn to speak at the gala dinner on Saturday evening.

Hodgson revealed the second in the line to the throne also offered his congratulations after England qualified for the World Cup next summer, but steered clear of predicting any success in Brazil.

"We obviously spoke about the qualification. The Prince has been a tremendous supporter all the way through and has been up at St George's Park (the National Football Centre) to meet us, and I have thanked him for that once again this evening.

"He sent me a letter to congratulate us on the qualification and has also just given his congratulations once again and praised us on achieving the goal we set out to reach: Brazil."

Prince George with his proud parents

William's speech came as Buckingham Palace released a new portrait of Prince George with his parents following his christening at Clarence House.

The photo shows George smiling at his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, with William by her side.

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Boots Sells Sperm Count DIY Fertility Kit

A DIY male fertility test has gone on sale in Britain, allowing men to carry out sperm count checks at home for the first time.

The SpermCheck fertility kit went on sale in Boots stores across the UK this weekend.

The kit takes 10 minutes to test if a man has a normal or below normal sperm count.

The US-designed kit - which looks similar to a home pregnancy test - is able to determine with 98% accuracy whether a man has a low sperm count or not.

However, the test is unable to determine the health of the sperm.

Around one in six couples in the UK have difficulty conceiving a child.

Up to a fifth of young men suffer from a low sperm count, defined as having fewer than 20 million sperm per millilitre of semen.

A low sperm count or poor sperm quality is the cause of infertility in about 20% of couples in the UK, and is a contributory factor in a further 25% of couples.

SpermCheck chief executive Ray Lopez told the Mail on Sunday: "With this test we can truly help couples suffering from infertility.

"A lot of the time, the woman is the one who is burdened with finding out what is wrong, but the reality of the situation is that in 40% to 60% of cases, male factor infertility is to blame."

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Storm: Train Companies Warn Of Cancellations

Train companies are warning commuters of widespread cancellations and disruption ahead of the approaching storm.

Southern said it was "highly unlikely" it would run services before at least 9am on Monday morning.

The train operator, which serves Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire and London, said it had been advised that "trees and other debris may fall on and obstruct railway lines".

A weather warning has been issued across large parts of England and Wales as a hurricane-strength storm builds over the Atlantic.

Winds of up to 80mph are predicted to hit Britain late on Sunday night and Monday morning.

South West Trains has warned people not to travel at all on Monday.

Storm clouds gathering over Brighton earlier Pic: Phil Beaven ‏@beevr001

It said it would be running a "significantly reduced timetable ... with the majority of services not expected to run until at least 0800".

Greater Anglia, whose network includes stations in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, has acted in advance and suspended all services until 9am on Monday.

The company hopes to run a reduced service after that time but says "significant disruption" is likely.

East Coast services from London Kings Cross are also running an amended timetable on Monday.

Southern Railway says early morning services on Monday are unlikely to run

Some have compared the approaching storm to the Great Storm of 1987, when 18 people died and thousands of homes were without power for several days.

Veteran weatherman Michael Fish famously failed to predict its severity before it flattened trees, knocked out power and left 22 people dead in England and France.

This time he has warned people to "batten down the hatches" and to delay their journey by two or three hours on Monday morning.

He told Sky News' Murnaghan show: "There is certainly a severe storm on the way - and we certainly do need to worry about it.

"If you draw a line from about Aberystwyth to the Humber - everywhere south of there looks like getting affected by strong winds, to the north of that the problem is going to be heavy rain and localised flooding.

"These strong winds aren't going to last all that long, but they are going to be unfortunately getting up around about rush hour time, so the message we're trying to convey at the moment is to delay your journey just by two or three hours in the morning, and then you should be safe."

Rough seas at Porthleven, Cornwall

His comments were echoed by senior fire chiefs who have urged people to stay indoors if possible, and to take extra care if venturing out.

Meteorologists have warned the fierce winds and torrential rain could leave a trail of destruction, damaging buildings and bringing down trees and power lines.

The storm will intensify very quickly when it reaches the UK

Roads may also be hit by flash flooding, bringing rush hour traffic on Monday morning to a halt, and homes could be flooded.

Prime Minister David Cameron said he had chaired a call with Government departments and agencies to hear about their plans to "ensure people are protected from tonight's storm".

He was updated on preparations and contingency planning for transport, schools. hospitals, councils and power supplies.

Mr Cameron was told that the storm could have "a widespread impact", but that transport providers, local Government, emergency services and power companies had plans in place to respond.

The much-anticipated storm - which the Met Office has said will affect Britain on Sunday night and Monday morning - has been named St Jude after the patron saint of lost causes, whose feast day is tomorrow.

Insurance companies have advised households to take steps to protect themselves and their property.

An amber warning is in place across the southern half of England and Wales

People should also establish evacuation plans, place valuable items upstairs to limit flood damage and ensure gutters are clear so water can drain away.

The Environment Agency says 20-40mm of rain could fall within six to nine hours and has put in place more than 60 flood alerts.

It has teams working to minimise river flood risk, clearing debris from streams and unblocking culverts, and are closely monitoring water levels so they are ready to issue flood warnings if necessary.

A spokesman said: "Seafronts, quaysides and jetties should be avoided due to the risk of overtopping by waves and wind-blown shingle."

Severe weather alerts are in place, with an amber warning, meaning "be prepared", for the southern half of England and Wales.

A yellow warning, meaning "be aware", has been issued for the rest of Wales and England up to the border with Scotland.

Ferry services between Plymouth and Roscoff, as well as Penzance and the Isles of Scilly, have been cancelled.

The Great Storm of 1987 left thousands without power

Brittany Ferries, which runs the Plymouth-Roscoff route, said on its website: "We are in the process of contacting all passengers booked on these sailings. We apologise for the inconvenience the cancellation of these services will cause."

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "The storm is coming through at the worst possible time; from around midnight to midday on Monday.

"So Monday morning's rush hour looks like being chaotic with travel and power interruptions anticipated.

"The public are advised to take the greatest care - and to carry a fully charged mobile if travel is necessary.

"Winds gusting at 80mph are quite capable of bringing down trees and power lines and causing structural damage.

"Trees are still full in leaf at this time of year and the ground is quite damp so there is more chance they can be ripped from the ground, and branches ripped from trees."

She said Atlantic storms of this type usually develop further west across the ocean, losing strength by the time they reach the UK and Ireland.

But the storm is expected to intensify near to the mainland before it hits the south-west coast with full force and sweeps north-east across the country, with a strong jetstream and warm air close to the UK contributing to its development and strength.

Darron Burness, head of the AA's flood rescue team, said: "The timing couldn't really be worse, potentially causing significant travel disruption on Monday morning, which is one of the busiest times on the roads."

The Metropolitan Police has urged people to avoid calling 999 during the storm unless there is a real emergency.

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