Richard Branson has called for more action to tackle climate change as Hurricane Maria draws closer

The billionaire Virgin Group founder, whose own private Necker Island was devastated by Hurricane Irma earlier this month, is in New York for the UN General Assembly, where is pushing for more action to tackle climate change.

And with Hurricane Maria threatening to bring more destruction, the mogul said the environmental warnings could no longer be ignored.

Maria is gathering pace and following a similar direction towards the British Virgin Islands as Irma, having been upgraded to a category 5 storm.

Writing on his blog, Mr Branson said: "When I opened the door to our bunker after Hurricane Irma, I looked out over Necker Island, saw the horrendous devastation and felt enormously sad and worried for the whole of the British Virgin Islands.