Storm Katie forces flights away from London

London, March 28: Storm Katie bringing gusts of up to 105 mph or about 170 km an hour battered England and Wales, forcing many flights to be diverted from airports and major bridges to be shut on Monday.

More than 20 Gatwick-bound flights in London had to be diverted to other airports, while London's Heathrow Airport cancelled more than 60.

The Met Office issued an amber warning for winds for London and south-east England, with a yellow alert for the east and southwest, and south Wales.

Some 900 engineers from Southern Electric were also working to reconnect more than 3,800 properties without supplies, while more than 1,000 homes are disconnected in the southwest.

The Environment Agency has issued 23 flood warnings and 122 alerts in response to what it said were "rapidly rising" river levels in the wake of the storm that started on Sunday night.

London Fire Brigade said it has dealt with more than 110 incidents caused by the high winds.

IANS