Travel networks have been thrown into chaos for the third time in a week as Storm Franklin sweeps the UK.
Train operator Northern issued a "do not travel" alert to passengers due to the impact of storms, with severe disruption on many of its routes, including between Sheffield and Manchester, Scarborough and Hull, York and Sheffield, Bradford and Leeds, Chester and Manchester, and Carlisle and Newcastle.
Emergency evacuation operations had also begun for over 400 homes in Manchester. However, Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig later said they had been stood down in Didsbury. Network Rail posted a message on its Kent and Sussex Twitter feed which stated: "Our advice is to stay home if you can as disruption is likely to get worse as the day goes on."Several major road bridges were closed on Monday morning, including the M48 Severn Bridge connecting England and Wales, and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at the Dartford Crossing between Kent and Essex.
Meanwhile, a lorry fire on the M6 started when high winds caused the vehicle to crash, with the road being closed between junction 27 and 28 as a result, Lancashire Police said.