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Video: Orwell Bridge re-opens as Storm Katie causes disruption across Essex and Suffolk

High winds and heavy rain in Bury St Edmunds.

High winds and rain sweeping across the region brought by Storm Katie is causing disruption in Essex and Suffolk.

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A plane overturned by high winds at Clacton Airfield in this picture from Simon Archer. No-one was hurt. A plane overturned by high winds at Clacton Airfield in this picture from Simon Archer. No-one was hurt.

Suffolk Constabulary said they have been called to more than 70 incidents involving fallen trees, debris on the roads and localised flooding.

On the roads there are major traffic delays in Suffolk earlier as the Orwell Bridge was closed due to the high winds.

It was re-opened just after 1pm as the winds died down.

Drivers had been diverted through Ipswich as part of the alternative route, leading to severe congestion on the A14 itself around the area and in the town, particularly along the A136 Wherstead Road.

In Felixstowe, one carriageway of the main shopping street, Hamilton Road, was blocked after a huge branch from a fir tree was blown down across the road.

Police were called and closed the road while staff from Suffolk Coastal Norse set about cutting up the branch, which had fallen from a tree bordering the old Central Surgery site where work is under way to build a Wetherspoons restaurant and pub.

Organisers of the All About Dogs show in Trinity Park, Ipswich, this morning confirmed today’s second day of the show would not be going ahead for safety reasons.

A tweet issued by the show organisers said: “The All About Dogs show will NOT go ahead today. Safety is paramount for all exhibitors and members of the public.”

Alison Cracknell's husband narrowly avoided being hit by this tree as it fell in Beatrice Avenue, Felixstowe Alison Cracknell's husband narrowly avoided being hit by this tree as it fell in Beatrice Avenue, Felixstowe

Ickworth House, near Bury St Edmunds, has closed its gardens due to the high winds but is holding a weatherproof Easter egg hunt inside the house instead.

Hardwick Heath, in Bury, has seen a large part of a tree collapse, but dog walkers were still battling through the horizontal rain this morning.

There were also reports of a tree partially blocking Nowton Road, Bury, this morning.

Further afield the QE2 bridge at the M25 Dartford Crossing is also closed, again leading to severe traffic problems in the area as motorists face a lengthy diversion via the Blackwall Tunnel.

Old Felixstowe this morning by the Fludyers Arms. The wind was tearing up the beach.Click on video & press HD for a clearer image. Posted by Paul Garrett on Monday, 28 March 2016

In Colchester Longridge is partially blocked due to a fallen tree between Springvalley Lane and Crockleford Heath, with fallen trees also reported in Church Road, Brightlingsea, and Great Tey.

Mark Cracknell had a narrow escape from a falling tree in Beatrice Avenue, Felixstowe.

Driving out at around 7am to take the dog for a walk, he saw the tree beginning to fall and hurriedly reversed to avoid its path.

Earlier train services between Manningtree and Harwich Town were cancelled by rail operator Abellio Greater Anglia while Network Rail engineers try to sort a problem with the overhead lines.

Close You currently have JavaScript disabled, functionality will be limited Storm Katie Damage to Brightlingsea Regent FC clubhouse by Storm Katie A plane overturned by high winds at Clacton Airfield in this picture from Simon Archer. No-one was hurt. Irene Kettle sent us this picture of fallen tree in Great Tey A tree has been blown down in Elliot Furniss' garden in Clarkson Street, Ipswich Storm Katie brings down two trees in Brightwell Storm Katie brings down two trees in Brightwell Storm Katie brings down two trees in Brightwell Storm Katie brings down two trees in Brightwell Storm Katie brings down two trees in Brightwell Storm Katie brings down two trees in Brightwell Storm Katie brings down two trees in Brightwell Storm Katie brings down two trees in Brightwell Storm Katie brings down two trees in Brightwell Alison Cracknell's husband narrowly avoided being hit by this tree as it fell in Beatrice Avenue, Felixstowe High winds and heavy rain in Bury St Edmunds. Dog walkers brace the elements on Hardwick Heath. A tree has fallen and smashed a bridge on the B1115 near Great Finborough. A tree has fallen and smashed a bridge on the B1115 near Great Finborough. A tree has fallen and smashed a bridge on the B1115 near Great Finborough. Roof of Andrew Miller's guinea pig house was ripped of by the wind. All pets accounted for. Louise Powell sent us this picture of the trampoline she nearly acquired thanks to the wind The roof of a beach hut on Clacton seafront was blown off during the high winds of Storm Katie on Bank Holiday Monday, 28th March. Signs were also blown over. High winds from Storm Katie blew the roof off a beach hut called 'Happy Days' on Clacton seafront on Monday 28th March. High winds from Storm Katie blew the roof off a beach hut called 'Happy Days' on Clacton seafront on Monday 28th March. High winds from Storm Katie blew the roof off a beach hut called 'Happy Days' on Clacton seafront on Monday 28th March. A deserted Felixstowe seafront as Storm Katie passes. Roadworks have been blown over after Storm Katie descended upon Ipswich. @MattKrahe on Twitter sent us this image of debris on the road in Stowmarket Garden furniture and fence panels are casualties of the wind in this picture from @ColonelCamulos



































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A rail replacement bus service was put in operation between the two stations.

The Met Office has a yellow warning for high winds across the region lasting until 3pm today as a result of Storm Katie.

Forecasters warn of gusts of 50-60mph, or potentially up to 70mph on south-facing coastlines.

Large waves are also a possibility in coastal areas.

Sailings from the Port of Harwich have been delayed due to the high winds, while the captain of the Stena Britannica – due to arrive at the port at 4.30am this morning – held the ship off the coast of Felixstowe until the wind drops below 50 knots. It docked at around 12.30pm.

A port spokesman said the wind was due to drop significantly around lunchtime, and he expected all evening sailings to resume as normal.

Stansted Airport is largely unaffected by the gusts, with the wind direction along the runaway rather than across it, though operations are running a little slower than normal.

Overnight it took in three extra flights from airports which were affected by the winds.

Recycling centres in Felixstowe, Foxhall, Hadleigh, Ipswich and Stowmarket have all been closed to the public due to the high winds, while Ipswich Borough Council has also closed its parks due to the hazardous conditions.

A borough council spokesman said: “We have closed parks where possible because of the risk posed by the stormy weather. We advise people to take extra care during the high winds.”

Power cuts are also affecting thousands homes across the two counties.

An estimated 474 homes in Tattingstone, 274 in Cattawade, 95 in Lawford are among those affected, with power outages also in Colchester, Langham, Clacton, Kirby Cross, and Lidgate among others.

The roof of a beach hut on Clacton seafront was blown off during the high winds of Storm Katie on Bank Holiday Monday, 28th March. The roof of a beach hut on Clacton seafront was blown off during the high winds of Storm Katie on Bank Holiday Monday, 28th March.

More than 1,600 homes were affected in the Knodishall area alone, though this fault with an underground power cable has now been fixed.

UK Power Networks, which looks after power lines in the region, said although it was “a busy day” in the East of England with a number of individual problems, there were no widespread issues caused by the storm such as those affecting its infrastructure in southern England.

Have you been affected by Storm Katie? If it is safe to do so please share your pictures with us at newsroom@archant.co.uk or tell us how you have been affected.