Gales were buffeting the Midlands today, leading to a warning to drivers on the region’s motorways.

The Highways Agency issued an amber alert for high-sided vehicles, motorbikes and caravans.

It issued official warnings for exposed routes north of Stafford, around the M5 junction one at West Bromwich and junction two at Dudley, the M5 junctions four to five Kidderminster to Redditch and the M6 at Spaghetti Junction.

The Highways Agency said it was working closely with the Met Office to monitor weather conditions and to maintain safe roads and reliable journeys.

Gusts of up to 60mph were expected in northern England today as an Atlantic depression arrived. Torrential rain in Scotland led to warnings of flooding.

But with winds from the south, temperatures remain very mild, with 12C (54F) in the Midlands and a balmy 15C (59F) in the south.