WEATHER conditions were returning to normal this afternoon after gale force winds battered the North-west causing storm damage and bringing local motorway networks to a virtual standstill.

Forecasters predicted a further night of storms for most of the country tonight.

Gusts reaching 90 miles per hour were recorded in the region earlier today.

Lanes on the clockwise M60 between Junction 10 and 11 were subject to speed restrictions due to high winds and a lorry overturning, causing long tailbacks. Drivers of high sided vehicles were asked to find alternative routes.

The Thelwall Viaduct on the M6 was closed for some time and Barton Bridge on the M60 was also closed earlier today due to gales and a lorry accident. Motorists also crawled to work along the M62 as surface water and speed restrictions brought rush-hour delays.

In Bolton, a number of trees were blown over temporarily blocking major roads, including Bury Road near the junction with Ainsworth Lane and on Pilkington Road in Kearsley. Police said they had been inundated with alarms activating and reports of roof tiles falling from homes and buildings. Part of a petrol station's forecourt canopy was also blown off in Church Street, Little Lever. No one was hurt.

In Farnworth, fire crews isolated the electricity at a flat in Higher Market Street at 8am today after rain seeped through the roof.

Meanwhile, the Mile Road in Flixton was shut as the River Mersey burst its banks and flooded the road. The Environment Agency issued a flood warning along with 82 others across the country. Belmont Way in Stockport was closed in both directions due to a large tree.

Motorists in Cumbria were advised not to use high mountain roads and take care on lower roads due to flooding.

Unconfirmed readings showed the Needles on the Isle of Wight hit by gusts of 95mph overnight, with the highest official recording a gust of 84mph in the Mumbles, near Swansea.

Agricultural fields and low lying farmland were most at risk from flooding.