Three climbers died in an avalanche on Ben Nevis as Storm Gareth continues to batter Britain with winds of up to 80mph forecast.

Police Scotland were called to the UK's highest mountain at 11.50am Tuesday morning, when gale-force winds and heavy rain was whipping across Britain.

Just hours before the disaster, the Scottish Avalanche Information Service increased the avalanche hazard to "high" - the second-most severe warning.

Freezing temperatures, piles of snow already manipulated by wind and strong summit winds being blown in by Storm Gareth were all factors when the extreme weather warning was issued for 6pm Monday to 6pm Tuesday.

The worst of 2019's third storm was not scheduled to hit mainland Britain until later on Tuesday, but it appears the strong wind from Storm Gareth combined with rain turning to snow on higher caused the disaster.

Earlier in the morning, disruption was already being felt up and down the country during the morning commute.

A slip road on the M6 in Cumbria had to be closed due to flash flooding caused by the heavy rain, and a number of trees were felled in the gusts in the capital, with some branches piercing cars and smashing windscreens.

Just after midday on Tuesday, London City Airport was forced to suspend operations because of the high winds.

Various yellow weather warnings for Storm Gareth are in place from Tuesday through to Friday with winds of up to 80mph forecast. More than a fortnight's worth of rain is also expected to fall in less than a day in some parts of the north west.