storm eunice begins to better parts of the uk. with record wind speeds, 3 met office red warning is in place in many areas. schools are shut, transport is disrupted and people are urged to stay at home. i don't know what the actual wind speed is but you can barely stand up in it. lam i am literally a 45 degrees angle, it is crazy. there is major disruption on roads, as well as to rail services and at airports. we've only issued 16 red warnings, so they don't come along very often. to have two in place at the same time is exceptionally rare.

we'll have the latest from across the country, on the impact of storm eunice. and the other main stories here this lunchtime: as russia carries out military drills in the black sea, world leaders meet in munich for a security conference, with the ukraine crisis top of the agenda. health leaders call on the government to keep offering free lateral flow tests, as the country moves towards the next phase of living with covid. and team gb's women curlers are in action this lunchtime at the winter olympics, hoping to bring home a medal. coming up in the sport later in the hour on the bbc news channel: lewis hamilton says he is ready to attack for the formula 1 title again but admits that he had a difficult time after last season's disappointment.

good afternoon, welcome to the bbc news at one. storm eunice is begin to batter much of the uk, causing widespread disruption and damage. forecasters say it could be one of the worst uk storms in three decades. the south—west bore the brunt of it this morning, with winds of an astonishing 122 mph recorded at the needles on the isle of wight. a met office red warning for wind is in place for london and the south east of england for the first time. it means a danger to life is likely and people have been told to stay at home. amber warnings are in force across much of england and wales until 9pm, bringing the possibility of power cuts and falling trees. and there are yellow warning for snow in scotland and northern ireland.

rail services, ferryjourneys and flights have been cancelled, schools are closed and thousands of homes are without power. our correspondent simonjones looks first at how eunice is affecting us so far. we were warned. as forecast, storm eunice swept in this morning, battering the coastline in south wales and in cornwall. a red warning meaning a simple message, the storm is so severe, that lives are at risk. i is so severe, that lives are at risk. ., �* ~' ., is so severe, that lives are at risk. ., �* ~ ., ., is so severe, that lives are at risk. ~ ., ., ., risk. i don't know what the actual wind speed _ risk. i don't know what the actual wind speed is. — risk. i don't know what the actual wind speed is, but _ risk. i don't know what the actual wind speed is, but you _ risk. i don't know what the actual wind speed is, but you can - risk. i don't know what the actuali wind speed is, but you can barely stand up in it. i'm guessing it is 80, 90 mph on stand up in it. i'm guessing it is 80,90 mph on top of the stand up in it. i'm guessing it is 80, 90 mph on top of the cliff. it has caused power cuts, forced hundreds of schools to shops and businesses to close. red warnings are very well- _ businesses to close. red warnings are very well. since _ businesses to close. red warnings are very well. since we _ businesses to close. red warnings are very well. since we change - businesses to close. red warningsi are very well. since we change the warning system in 2011, we have only

issued 16 red warnings. they don't come along very often and to have two in place at the same time is exceptionally rare. film. two in place at the same time is exceptionally rare.— two in place at the same time is exceptionally rare. oh, my god, oh, m cosh! exceptionally rare. oh, my god, oh, my gosh! ghost _ exceptionally rare. oh, my god, oh, my gosh! ghost strong _ exceptionally rare. oh, my god, oh, my gosh! ghost strong enough - exceptionally rare. oh, my god, oh, my gosh! ghost strong enough to i my gosh! ghost strong enough to brina my gosh! ghost strong enough to bring down _ my gosh! ghost strong enough to bring down the _ my gosh! ghost strong enough to bring down the street _ my gosh! ghost strong enough to bring down the street in - bring down the street in gloucestershire. it is notjust the wind causing the worry, snow has been falling lead to difficult driving conditions in county durham. yellow warnings are in place much of northern england, scotland and ireland. at this control centre, they have been monitoring the roads. it feels like we have less traffic than normal on friday so people are heeding the warnings but there will not be a good time to drive today with these horrible condition so please do not get into a rush hour related accident, it is not safe. this flight into heathrow had a bit of a bumpy this flight into heathrow had a bit ofa bumpy landing. many this flight into heathrow had a bit of a bumpy landing. many others have been cancelled. rail companies have been cancelled. rail companies have been advising people not to travel.

large parts of the network have been shut anyway. if large parts of the network have been shut anyway-— shut anyway. if people do need to travel, shut anyway. if people do need to travel. they _ shut anyway. if people do need to travel, they should _ shut anyway. if people do need to travel, they should first _ shut anyway. if people do need to travel, they should first of - shut anyway. if people do need to travel, they should first of all- shut anyway. if people do need to travel, they should first of all be i travel, they should first of all be prepared — travel, they should first of all be prepared for very long delays and secondly— prepared for very long delays and secondly check with their train operators— secondly check with their train operators that the train is running. in operators that the train is running. in common — operators that the train is running. in common with other agencies, our strong _ in common with other agencies, our strong advice is not to travel. london — strong advice is not to travel. london and the south—east of england are facing an unprecedented situation. ~ are facing an unprecedented situation-— are facing an unprecedented situation. ~ ' . ., �* situation. the met office don't issue a red _ situation. the met office don't issue a red weather— situation. the met office don't issue a red weather warning i situation. the met office don'ti issue a red weather warning as situation. the met office don't l issue a red weather warning as a matter of course. the first time everin matter of course. the first time ever in london. storm eunice is the worst storm we have faced in three decades in london. it is really important you are there on the side of caution. ~ ., , ., of caution. whether warnings remain in lace of caution. whether warnings remain in place until— of caution. whether warnings remain in place untiltonight _ of caution. whether warnings remain in place untiltonight but _ of caution. whether warnings remain in place until tonight but even - of caution. whether warnings remain in place until tonight but even then l in place until tonight but even then that won't be the end of the story. i don't want to be the bringer of doom _ i don't want to be the bringer of doom and — i don't want to be the bringer of doom and gloom but today, as serious as it is, _ doom and gloom but today, as serious as it is, and _ doom and gloom but today, as serious as it is, and ii— doom and gloom but today, as serious as it is, and it is a serious, severe _ as it is, and it is a serious, severe event today, but on the back of this, _ severe event today, but on the back of this, we — severe event today, but on the back of this, we have more rain coming so they could _ of this, we have more rain coming so they could he — of this, we have more rain coming so they could be possibilities of further— they could be possibilities of further flooding as the week pans out. further flooding as the week pans out let's— further flooding as the week pans out. let's get today out of the way

first and _ out. let's get today out of the way first and let's make sure that all of our— first and let's make sure that all of our infrastructure, all of our defences, _ of our infrastructure, all of our defences, are still in good shape to be able _ defences, are still in good shape to be able to— defences, are still in good shape to be able to deal with whatever might come _ be able to deal with whatever might come for— be able to deal with whatever might come for the rest of the week. the battle with — come for the rest of the week. the battle with the _ come for the rest of the week. tie: battle with the elements is far from over. simonjones, bbc news. wales has been battered by the wind and waves. there are no trains running anywhere in wales — the first time that has happened — and people are being advised to stay at home. our wales correspondent tomos morgan is in porthcawl in south wales for us now. porthcawl is no stranger to stormy weather but seldom has the wind been so strong across south wales, reaching up to 90 mph at times this morning. the red warning has now passed but it is still verying fairly blustery. some took the dramatic steps to the lighthouse station to get the dramatic pictures

when high tide and red warning coincided at 80 and this morning but for the majority, they took the advice and stayed indoors protecting themselves from the stormy weather. as storm eunice crashes over porthcawl, the majority of cafes and businesses are shut in and around the south wales coastline, as it took the breath of the weather this morning. gusts of over 90 mph have been clocked, as eunice sweeps anything in its path. i have lived in porthcawl many, many years and i have never experienced anything like this before. it has even taken my breath away, it is so windy. you couldn't even walk on the prom, could you? you can't. i am literally at a 45 degrees angle. it is crazy. stronger than we have seen for a long time. the lack of rain is a big help, but i haven't seen a wind as strong as this for a while. the seafront here in porthcawl

really bore the brunt of the weather here this morning, as within the hour of the red warning coming into force it coincided with high tide, waves came crashing over the promenade here. although the met office's red warning has now ended, thw whole of wales is now under an amber alert for winds until this evening. scenes in holyhead disrupting ferry services across the irish sea. elsewhere on the transport front, eunice's impact on the road overturned a lorry on the m4. fallen trees damaged a car in swansea, with both severn bridges now closed. all trains have been postponed for the first time ever in wales. i have been on the railway 30 years in wales and i do not recall a storm of this magnitude where we have taken the decision of suspending the service in advance. over 25,000 homes are now without power and that number is steadily rising. most schools are closed. half term here starting a day earlier than planned. as eunice continues to create dramatic but dangerous scenery,

the advice is to stay indoors and to only travel absolutely necessary. tomos morgan, bbc news, porthcawl. the south west of england saw the worst of the weather this morning — a red met office warning was in place until midday, that is now an amber warning. there are flood warnings still in place along the severn estuary, caused primarily by tidal surges following huge waves. our correspondent andrew plant is in maisemore in gloucestershire. andrew. we are right by the river severn here _ andrew. we are right by the river severn here this _ andrew. we are right by the river severn here this afternoon. - andrew. we are right by the river severn here this afternoon. this l andrew. we are right by the river| severn here this afternoon. this is the one that snakes its way up through gloucestershire and up into the midlands. what we are hearing, all those flood warnings, but as you can see, it is high but so far it is also behaving itself will stop no flooding here as yet. here in the west, it has been the high winds rather than the high water causing all of the problems.

this is the west coast and it is where the bristol channel is coming in off the sea and becomes the river severn and gets much narrower as it goes north. you can see it is high tide now, it is getting really choppy and really windy as eunice starts to hit but it is up there in that direction, as it goes into gloucestershire, that is where they are worried it could start to cause flooding. along the river, homes and businesses have been blocking doors with sandbags and everyone here keeping a close eye on the water after environment agency warnings that flooding was likely. further south, the high winds brought down trees. this crashing down this morning. on the coast at st ives in cornwall, the high winds brought big waves and a warning to keep away from the water. it is waves and a warning to keep away from the water.— from the water. it is still very

dangerous- — from the water. it is still very dangerous. the _ from the water. it is still very dangerous. the winds - from the water. it is still very dangerous. the winds are - from the water. it is still very - dangerous. the winds are gusting away. we are up to hurricane force at the moment and it really is getting quite... i think we are now coming to the eye of it, to be fair. others had to leave their holiday caravans and take shelter inside. we don't know yet if our caravan is ok. it don't know yet if our caravan is ok. it could _ don't know yet if our caravan is ok. it could still— don't know yet if our caravan is ok. it could still be there or be a pile of rubble — it could still be there or be a pile of rubble. it is one or the other and we — of rubble. it is one or the other and we are _ of rubble. it is one or the other and we are not allowed back on site so i and we are not allowed back on site so i think— and we are not allowed back on site so i think it — and we are not allowed back on site so i think it is going to be another night _ so i think it is going to be another night in _ so i think it is going to be another night in the — so i think it is going to be another night in the hotel.— night in the hotel. eunice arrived later than expected, _ night in the hotel. eunice arrived later than expected, many - night in the hotel. eunice arrived later than expected, many hope | night in the hotel. eunice arrived i later than expected, many hope the threat of flooding may now be receding, but the storm so far has left a trail of destruction behind. andrew plante, bbc news, gloucester. in a minute, we'll get the latest on the situation in london with sanchia berg, and the government's emergency cobra meeting with helen catt. first, let's cross to danjohnson who is in stainmore summit in the pennines. snow is the issue where you are?

yes. we are on the boundary here between cumbria and durham and we are in the heart of the area that is the focus of that amber warning for snow and ice. as you can see, quite a lot has fallen already on this higher ground in the pennines this morning and there is more forecast for later this afternoon. this road, the a66 across the pennines was close this morning mainly due to the high winds and trucks are still being advised to stay off this and some of the other high roads across the hills because of the high winds expected this afternoon. the humber bridge is going to close at 1:30pm. it is only the fourth or fifth time in its a0 years that it has been closed because of the weather. so, although things aren't as bad here in the north as perhaps they are in the south, the bad weather is having an effect and it looks like the disruption will last for some time.

power cuts are also expected to be an issue. northern power grid said it did manage to reconnect yesterday all the households that had been affected by storm dudley, around 20,000, but they are braced for more trees to come down effecting more power lines and putting more people into darkness electricity perhaps night and into tomorrow. the disruption could last through the weekend. we have seen the greater is out on the road is trying to keep routes open. out on the road is trying to keep routes open-— out on the road is trying to keep routes open-— routes open. many thanks, dan johnson. let's _ routes open. many thanks, dan johnson. let's talk— routes open. many thanks, dan johnson. let's talk as _ routes open. many thanks, dan johnson. let's talk as well i routes open. many thanks, dan johnson. let's talk as well do i johnson. let's talk as well do sanchia berg at paddington station. i have lost track of the number of stations putting out warnings and talking about disruption.— talking about disruption. that's ri . ht. the talking about disruption. that's right. the boards _ talking about disruption. that's right. the boards here - talking about disruption. that's right. the boards here really i talking about disruption. that's. right. the boards here really tell the story of the storm's approach. when i arrived this morning, there were no trains to wales, trains to the west of england were delayed. as they were cancelled, as a day continued, and currently those boards are completely empty. as you

can hear, we are getting announcements all the time. there are going to be no trains out of paddington for the next four hours because lines have come down. that level of disruption is repeated as of the next four hours because lines have come down. that level of disruption is repeated as other mainline stations, south—eastern services, are being suspended, south—western as well and many other forms of transport. air travel is disrupted, otherforms of forms of transport. air travel is disrupted, other forms of travel. there are warnings out there. this is the effect as the storm hits the capital. there is an awful lot of disruption and travel certainly here from paddington is unlikely to get back to normalfor quite from paddington is unlikely to get back to normal for quite some time. sanchia berg at a very noisy paddington station. thank you very much. let's talk about the politics of all of this. helen catt is at westminster — a cobra meeting just getting underway? yes, getting under way now. that is the government's emergency committee, made up of ministers and

officials, different ones depending on what they are talking about. while the response on the ground is being largely driven by the locally coordinated groups of councils, emergency services, power networks, the environment agency, government departments are in very close contact with them, monitoring what is happening. i have been speaking to people in some of those government departments this morning. one told me that so far things were panning out pretty much as they had anticipated. the main impacts are pretty obviously they expect to come from those extraordinarily high winds that we are seeing across different parts of england. they are still concerned, though, about the possibility of flooding, as you heard earlier, along the tidal river seven. also the possibility of —— river severn. we are told things like putting in place a high volume water pumps into strategic locations so they could be moved around where needed more quickly stop we will have to wait to see how that planning has panned out. some

opposition parties, the liberal democrats, are calling for the government to come forward with a package of support measures for those affected. we will expect to see, we think, from government later this afternoon. —— expect to hear from the government later this afternoon-— from the government later this afternoon. �*, ., ., afternoon. let's take a breath and see where — afternoon. let's take a breath and see where we _ afternoon. let's take a breath and see where we are _ afternoon. let's take a breath and see where we are in _ afternoon. let's take a breath and see where we are in this - afternoon. let's take a breath and i see where we are in this lunchtime. our bbc weather presenter nick miller is with me now. dreadful for 70 people dreadfulfor 70 people in different parts of the country. what is your assessment of the coming hours? everything we have heard about, damaging gusts of wind associated with storm eunice. moving from west to east across the southern half of the uk. now very much in this met office read wind warning area, including london. i know we had about the ghost of 122 mph on the isle of wight, very exposed. we are now getting gusts of 70 to 80 mph

now getting gusts of 70 to 80 mph now at heathrow and gatwick. damage and destruction will expand over the next few hours. we are very much in the thick of it in this zone here. people woke up in the south—east and thought it's not too bad stop it was always going to get worse before it got better and that is what is happening at the moment. remember we have this much wider amber wind warning area will stop again, the strongest winds are transferring eastwards across this area as we speak. this continues into this evening. the storm is out of the way tonight but still for several more hours these damaging, danger to life, gust of wind. we heard talk of a sting jet with the system, some suggesting that is possible, narrow zone of strong winds on the southern flank. i have seen no evidence of that. regardless of the intricacies of this, we are very much experiencing these damaging, danger to life gust of wind right now and will be for several more hours to come.

everything thank you so much, nick. he will be back with the usual weather forecast at the end of the programme. to keep up to date with the situation where you live, you can listen to your bbc local radio station and you can find details of your nearest station at bbc.co.uk/sounds, and for the picture across the country head to bbc.co.uk/news where we will have live updates throughout the day. the time is1:pm our top story this lunchtime: storm eunice begins to batter parts of the uk, with record wind speeds; a met office red warning is in place for london and the southeast. and coming up: criticism of the treatment of skater kamila valieva by her coaches after she failed to win an olympic medal. coming up in the sport in the next

15 minutes on the bbc news channel: british medal hopes in the half pipe come crashing down in beijing. we'll have the latest from the winter olympics. as uncertainty about the crisis in ukraine continues, russia's president vladimir putin is to oversee further military drills tomorrow, involving ballistic missiles and cruise missile launches. it comes as ukraine's defence minister says about 150,000 russian troops are now encircling the country, despite russia's claims that some have been pulled back. world leaders are meeting in munich today for a security conference, which russia won't be attending for the first time since 1999. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams reports.

russian's military exercises in belarus are almost over, designed to show off moscow's power in the most unambiguous way. other drills out in the black sea. rarely has russia displayed its military might in so many places at the same time. it has mesmerised and profoundly alarmed the west, and perhaps that is the point. some equipment is going back to bases close to ukraine. western officials say they want to see other units be moved much further away before there can be any meaningful talk of de—escalation. although russia has announced it is moving its forces back to garrison, we have yet to see that. in fact, we see more forces moving into that region, that border region. right in eastern ukraine,

vladimir putin could invade ukraine at a moment's notice, but whatever he decides to do, the sheer theatricality of his muscle flexing in recent weeks has completely transformed the west�*s understanding of russia as a global power. even if war is averted, and it hasn't been yet, this crisis is not going to be forgotten for a long, long time. least of all the politicians and leaders gathering for a security conference in munich. the west still scrambling to formulate its response to the challenge from moscow. at the kremlin, mr putin held talks with the leader of belarus, alexander lukashenko, the man playing host to the drills which finish on sunday. military exercises

are active right now. tomorrow we will even participate together in an important part of this whole complex of military cooperation. ukrainian soldiers already involved in fighting know that something much bigger could still be looming. russia insists it has no plans to attack. no one here is relaxing their guard. paul adams, bbc news. our correspondent steve rosenberg joins us now from minsk in belarus, where president putin and the belarusian leader alexander lukasheko have met. steve, there are concerns that the military exercises are a cover for military escalation. well, nato has expressed concern about the scale of these exercises. the consensus seems to be that this is the largest russian military deployments to belarus since the end of the cold war. the numbers we

range from 10,000 to 30,000 russian soldiers. these exercises are due to end on sunday, so the big question is, once they do end, will be russian soldiers? will they go back to base chemical yesterday, the leader of belarus, alexander lukashenko, suggested that the russian troops might stick around for a while, but the russian defence ministry has said that they will go home. we will see. as far as the other military exercises, the ones that were announced today involving vladimir putin and cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, the russians say there is nothing to worry about, these are normal exercises. but of course, in a time of heightened international tension, course, in a time of heightened internationaltension, i course, in a time of heightened international tension, i think the kremlin is trying to jangle the nerves even more in the west. steve, thank you. steve rosenberg in belarus. several major health charities in england are calling for children's health services to be prioritised, as the country emerges from the pandemic. a report from the nuffield trust and the health foundation

for england highlights growing waits for planned care, delays to cancer diagnoses — and a surge in demand for mental health services. more details from our health correspondent, katharine da costa. some days she couldn't walk. getting angry, she was crying sometimes. the children caught up in delays and disruption caused by the covid pandemic. sometimes ijust see tears rolling down his face. gone from the child he was to pretty much a recluse. he's more interested in your fingers. eight—year—old thomas from leeds was diagnosed with leukaemia three years ago. his fortnightly hospital appointments moved to monthly video calls during the pandemic. his mother says without face—to—face checkups problems with his bladder and liver weren't spotted. it's like all the time in the back of my head, how long has this been going on? would it have been detected sooner had he have been seen? as a mother, i want to take

this pain away from him. i don't want to sit and watch him in this pain but i can't do anything. i just feel completely helpless. sorry. as well as disruption to some cancer care, there has been unprecedented demand for children's mental health services and the waiting list for planned hospital treatment grew to more than 300,000 in november — 1,000 young people waiting over two years. remember, crutch first! every day has been a struggle for 13—year—old cerys from nottingham. she has a condition which means that one leg is longer than the other. last summer, she was put on a waiting list for an operation but it was cancelled twice because of covid. there you go, sweetheart. i was really angry and frustrated by the situation.

ijust want to be able to be normal and that and not have any pain in my legs. keris finally had the operation last month to fit a frame on her leg that will help it to grow. it's a relief it's all over. the last minute cancellations caused a huge amount of anxiety. the whole situation of this, re—booking and cancelling, it's not fair on keris, she was losing school days. i was losing work days, which i wasn't getting paid for. in response to thomas's case, leeds teaching hospital trust told us it is committed to achieving timely and safe care for all patients. all four uk nations have said they will continue to prioritise children's care with extra investment in both mental and physical health services. katharine da costa, bbc news. meanwhile, some nhs leaders have said the government should be taking a cautious approach to the pandemic. the nhs confederation has urged ministers not to end self—isolation

for people with covid, or free lateral flow tests. our health editor hugh pym is here. so what they urging here? well, jane, it is in response to the announcement that is set for monday in terms of the future of remaining legal restrictions in england. the prime minister has already indicated that the subject of the data, he wants to see an end to the requirements isolated self—isolate if you test positive, and it's been widely reported, the possibility that the lateral flow tests will at some stage no longer be available, although probably they will remain so for the most vulnerable. when asked about this yesterday, the health secretary said janet said that the protections we have enjoyed being reviewed. —— sajid javid. he did not say about what might happen

to a natural process, but he said they must learn to live in kobe. the nhs leaders have said that during all this at once, in their view, is the wrong approach, that they need to be free to concentrate on dealing with the backlog on any remaining list with the virus is how they will make theirjob difficult. limited to the chief executive peter, the government should notjust magical and then hope that the threat has disappeared. thank you, hugh. team gb curlers are playing right now in their semifinal at the pics. they are guaranteed a medal if they win. meanwhile, the head of the international olympic committee has said he was very disturbed by the meanwhile the head of the international olympic committee has said he was very disturbed by the way the 15—year—old russian figure skater kamilla valeeyeva was treated by her coach after she fell several times during her final yesterday. andy swiss reports from the games. come on, zoe atkin. another day when britain's skiing hopes went rapidly downhill. zoe atkin began the halfpipe as a medal contender.

not for long, though. afterfalling on herfirst run on her second run, she fell again. that leftjust one more chance. she drops in for the third and final time. and although she made it down safely, atkin had to settle for ninth. i'm glad that i put one down on my last run, i because i fell in my first two. yeah, to be able to ski - in the olympics is an amazing opportunity, and i'm really glad that i was able to make - it to the finals. oh, it's massive, isn't it? the gold, though, was never in doubt. the extraordinary eileen gu soaring to her third medal of the games. born in the usa, representing china, now on top of the world. what a breathtaking talent eileen gu is, and what delight for the host nation. and with her second gold medal here in beijing, she's proving to be perhaps the star of these games. but the name of these games is surely kamila valieva, the 15—year—old who failed a drug

test, was cleared to compete, but whose hopes last night ended in tears. today, the lack of sympathy shown by her entourage was criticised at the very highest level. it was chilling to see this, rather than to try to to help her, you could feel this chilling atmosphere. as ever, needs to be inch perfect. meanwhile, britain's women's curling team are currently playing their semifinal against sweden. victory, and team gb�*s second medal of these games will be guaranteed. andy swiss, bbc news, beijing. time for a look at the weather. here's nick miller. hi, nick. by, jane. i know it was parts of the south of england and wales and saw the worst of it. that standout gust of 122 mph on the isle of wight, but

the wind is really ramping up now