Winds reached 75mph in two of the stands

Burnley's game against Wimbledon was called off because of safety fears as gale force winds swept the county.

The club said it would be unsafe for spectators and players as there was a risk of debris being blown off the stands of its Turf Moor ground.

The high winds also caused havoc on the county's roads, with a number of routes blocked by fallen trees and debris.

Police urged motorists in the region to take extra care during the adverse weather.

Burnley FC's chief executive Dave Edmundson said it would have been unsafe for fans to sit in the upper tier of the James Hargreaves and Jimmy McIlroy stands.

He told the club's official website: "Our ground safety officer Alex Wood and the Police felt that it wouldn't be safe.

"The gusting winds were 70 to 75mph in the upper tier of the James Hargreaves and Jimmy McIlroy Stand and a 16-stone person had been up there and almost blown off their feet."