LIVE Storm Pia weather and travel latest as Met Office updates warning after UK battered by strong winds

Storm Pia is sweeping across the UK today - bringing strong winds and rain.

Gusts of up to 50mph are forecast for Greater Manchester this morning, with strong winds of around 40mph predicted to last through the whole day. The storm, named by the Danish Met Institute, will also bring rain to our region with the heaviest showers forecast from around 3pm.

As the storm sweeps over the country, a Met Office yellow weather warning is in place for wind. The warning came into force at midnight. It was due to last until 9pm but in an update, the Met Office brought its end forward to 3pm, saying: "With the strongest winds occurring this morning, the warning end time has been brought forward as winds slowly ease and impacts become less likely."

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The warning covers a 'large swathe of the country', however, including Greater Manchester and much of northern England, Wales, the Midlands, Ireland and Scotland. Travel disruption is expected throughout the morning on the trains and roads.

Some air travel may also be disrupted due to the strong winds and the M60 is closed after a lorry overturned.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, said: "From late Wednesday into Thursday, strong winds are likely to develop across a large area of the UK. We’ve issued a large yellow warning area where there’s a potential for some impacts, but gusts of 50-60mph are possible for large parts of central and northern areas of the UK.

"Exposed coasts and high ground could see gusts of 70-80mph at times, mainly across the far north of Scotland.