LONDON, March 10: As a major storm pounded the UK on Monday, thousands of homes were left without power and ferry, rail, air and road passengers suffered delays and cancellations.

The winds also hit London on Monday morning, with Heathrow lashed by 42mph winds. In the west, the region that bore the brunt of the storm, an estimated 7,000 people suffered electricity cuts after trees crashed through power lines. Some were forced to evacuate their homes in exposed coastal areas because of the risk of flooding and of structural damage in high winds.

The Environment Agency said the first wave of storms only caused localised flooding but warned people should remain vigilant.

Further high winds are expected to hit the coasts and 36 flood warnings are in place in England and Wales.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said: “The situation has now improved along parts of the south-west and southern coasts.”

It is urging people in those areas to stay vigilant, as spring tides combining with strong winds could cause flooding.

Transport was severely affected, with all sailings from Dover cancelled and the port closed. Ferries services at a number of places were also called off.

British Airways cancelled a number of short-haul flights at Heathrow and Gatwick airports on Monday morning after air traffic controllers imposed controls on the frequency of take-offs and landings, and some inbound flights were diverted. A few flights at Bristol airport were delayed.

BBC reported that accidents, high winds, floods and, further north, blizzards, caused problems on many roads, with fire fighters using an inflatable boat to rescue one motorist from the roof of his car after he drove into floodwaters near Ilminster, Somerset.

The storm, caused by one of the deepest weather depressions for several years, brought a “potent cocktail” of low pressure, strong winds, pounding waves and high tides, likely to last until Wednesday and bringing the risk of major flooding, the Environment Agency said.

Emergency services warned people not to venture too near to the coastline.

The government’s crisis committee, Cobra, held an emergency meeting in Whitehall last night, overseen by Gordon Brown via a conference call. The committee discussed potential damage to infrastructure by the expected flooding and threats to transport, including flights from the main airports.