Millions warned to stay inside while Storm Eowyn blasts UK with 108mph winds

Schools are closed and millions have been told to stay inside as Storm Eowyn brings winds of over 100mph to Britain.

A rare red weather warning is in place in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the Met Office warning of a significant risk to life posed by flying debris as well as damage to buildings and power lines.

Sea, air and road travel is likely to be heavily disrupted, with Network Rail suspending all services, including replacement buses, in Scotland today.

Ferry operators have also cancelled numerous Irish Sea crossings because of Storm Eowyn, while British Airways has grounded more than 20 flights.

Additional flight cancellations have taken place at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast airports.

Police have said nobody should travel from or to the red warning areas and motorists have been told to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

Around 4.5 million people in affected areas received an emergency alert on their phones on Thursday in what has been the ‘largest real life use of the tool to date’.