Traffic was being diverted via the M4 second Severn Crossing

The M48 old Severn bridge is shut, with traffic being diverted via the second Severn crossing.

Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire is expected to be closed because of concerns about falling trees.

Train operator First Great Western has warned passengers of "significant disruption" to long-distance services as all trains are limited to 50mph.

Strong winds - gusting to more than 50mph - and heavy rain made driving conditions on the M4 in South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire difficult.

Flooding

The railway line between Swindon and Cheltenham, which was closed earlier this week after a train became derailed as a result of a landslip at Kemble, reopened on Thursday.

The slippage was attributed to heavy rainfall, which is continuing to cause problems in Gloucestershire.

The B4066 at Taits Hill in Stinchcombe is closed because of flooding.

Branches which could damage cables were cut down

Elsewhere, Somerset County Council said about 30 trees had come down in the high winds.

Some roads have been closed as a result, including the B3187 between Milverton and Wellington and the B3190 between Washford Cross and Raleigh's Cross.

The utility company Western Power said it sent engineers out onto Exmoor to cut branches back from some trees that could damage power lines.

At Backwell School in North Somerset roof panels on part of the new block for maths and special needs were blown-off. The school said no-one was injured in the incident.

BBC weather forecaster Penny Tranter said the Met Office continued to warn of damaging winds gusting between 60 and 70mph until mid afternoon.

"These winds are likely to give poor travelling conditions at times and may give particular concern to high-sided vehicles," she said.

A Bristol International Airport said the majority of flights into and out of the airport on Thursday morning had been running as normal.