GALE force winds and driving rain swept across the South West early yesterday (Thursday) morning causing damage, flooding and delays.

A number of calls were made to the police about fallen trees blocking roads near Wrantage on the A378 and near Tonedale in Wellington.

The fallen trees, mostly reported during the early morning rush hour, caused long delays to commuters.

Flooding was also an issue, with Upper Culm, near Taunton, and roads between Chard and Donyatt heavily hit, and there were also flooding problems on other parts of the A358 causing slow moving traffic.

The Environment Agency issued a general flood watch across the county and the rising levels of the River Tone caused concern once again for Taunton residents.

The bad weather is set to move quickly east across the country and by the weekend the worst should be over.