A Met Office wind warning has come into force as strong gales threaten power outages and travel delays.

A Yellow wind warning, affecting the entire South West, came into force on Wednesday. The strong winds are expected to begin at noon, carrying on until 8pm.

Met Office guidance is cautioning travellers to expect delays by road, rail, ferry and air, and warns that the short term loss of power is possible.

The National Highways Agency has urged drivers to take "extra care" and consider delaying their journeys as a result of the high winds.

In West Somerset a flood alert sent out on Tuesday remains in place. It affects the coastline between Gore Point and Hurlstone Point including Porlock Weir.

The Met Office has warned that people should avoid using low lying footpaths or entering areas prone to flooding in and around the affected area. 

The Environment Agency is urging people to stay away from the sea front, where rising sea levels and high winds could see coastal areas could hit by spray and large waves. 

Coastsafe, which transmits messages on behalf of the RNLI and other organisations, has said the coast will be 'dangerous and unpredictable' on Wednesday.

The Met Office forecast predicts heavy rain across Wellington and West Somerset on Wednesday, before grey clouds give way to sunny spells on Thursday.

In the event of a Flood Alert, Environment Agency guidance is to prepare a bag with vital items, check you know how to turn off mains gas, electricity and water, and plan how you'll move family and pets to safety.

To sign up for flood alerts, visit the government website.

For guidance on how to stay safe in a strong wind, see the Met Office website.