High winds and torrential rain left chimneys damaged, trees felled and roads flooded as extreme weather swept across Watford this morning.

Hertfordshire Highways responded to more than 200 reports of damage to the county’s road network including flooding, potholes and blocked drains, as the heavy weather set in.

Strong gusts whipped around Watford throughout the morning, toppling bins and rubbish into streets.

The gales also ripped branches off in other areas of the town and uprooted a whole tree which crashed across Watford Road in Northwood.

Part of Vicarage Road flooded next to Laurance Haines School, forcing pedestrians to wade through a foot of water or scale the adjacent metal fence to avoid the mega puddle.

Residents of Trinity Hall Close dialled 999 after a large tree was left leaning over after being hit by the strong gales.

In New Road, Croxley Green, firefighters dealt with a fallen tree before later securing a chimney that had come loose near Café Nero in Watford High Street.

One resident of St Albans Road was not so lucky after their chimney was blown off the roof of their house completely.

Of a total of 10 calls made to emergency services in Hertfordshire, five came from Watford and the surrounding areas.

Areas across the UK were lashed by high winds, which reached 100mph in Scotland, as well as stormy rain throughout the morning.

A 50-year-old man was killed in Kent and a bus driver severely injured in Surrey when a trees collapsed onto their vehicles.