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Thousands without power and travel disruption as Storm Austen batters southern UK

Photo: BBC

More than 15,000 homes are without power as Storm Austen continues to batter southern England and Wales, with more bad weather expected this weekend.

The first named storm of the season brought gusts of up to 84mph (135km/h) to Jersey, while in southern England the wild weather disrupted travel with fallen trees blocking railway lines and roads.

In Brighton, part of the iconic West Pier - an abandoned structure that first opened in 1866 - collapsed into the sea.

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