Storm Ciaran caused damage to overhead wires in the Peterborough area yesterday, leading to the rail line being blocked.

LNER, the main train operator on the East Coast Main Line between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverley, has since advised passengers not to travel until Saturday.

Several other train operators also warned of disruption for today (Friday) while debris from Storm Ciaran was cleared from tracks.

Some 67 flood warnings are in place with 209 flood alerts stretching up through the country, after the south coast and the Channel Islands were battered with heavy rain and gusts of up to 100mph on Thursday.

Nearly 150,000 homes were left without power, and by 4pm on Thursday around 11,300 properties still had no electricity.

Some 135,700 had been reconnected, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) said.

A spokesperson said: “By working together in very challenging conditions, so far today network operators have reconnected 92% of customers affected by storm-related power cuts.

“While difficult conditions remain, with violent winds forecast until the end of the day, teams from across the country are working together to continue to reconnect customers where it is safe to do so.”