Flood alerts are tonight in place for parts of Norfolk and Suffolk, while strong winds and rain has swept across the region.

The Environment Agency issued six flood alerts for the coastline of the two counties and one flood warning – a more serious status for Felixstowe Ferry and Bawdsey Quay. High tide levels were expected along the Suffolk and Norfolk coast due to a combination of spring tides, a tidal surge and the strong winds as Storm Clodagh gusted in.

The flood warning for Felixstowe Ferry and Bawdsey Key was due to remain in force until just after 4am tomorrow morning, with high water at Harwich forecast for 2.05am.

Properties at Bawdsey Quay and in front of the flood defences at Felixstowe Ferry were deemed by the Environment Agency to be 'at risk'.

Elsewhere, there were flood alerts in place for the tidal River Yare, the tidal river Waveney, the Suffolk coast at Southwold, the Suffolk coast from Lowestoft to Bawdsey, the Tidal Deben Estuary and for the Norfolk coast at Great Yarmouth.

With westerly force seven winds predicted, the forecast high water is due at Great Yarmouth at 11.35pm tonight and at Lowestoft at 11.49pm.

The warnings are likely to remain in force until 1.35am and 1.49am respectively tomorrow.

There were gusts of 40-50mph in places around the region, which prompted a warning from Norfolk police to drive carefully. The coastguard and Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said there had not yet been any incidents of note.

But forecasters warned the blustery winds would return to parts of Norfolk tomorrow morning.

The Met Office issued a yellow warning for parts of north west Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, with southwesterly winds with gusts of up to 50mph expected from 9am, easing into the afternoon.

Flights were diverted, trains delayed and traffic held up on motorways as heavy rain and strong winds lashed Scotland and the north west of England today.

But Storm Clodagh is set to pass overnight, giving buffeted Britain respite from the worst of the gales.