Dozens of UK flights cancelled as Storm Kathleen sweeps in

Dozens of flights have been cancelled as Storm Kathleen brings strong winds and the warmest day of the year so far to the UK.

About 140 flights departing and arriving at UK airports were cancelled after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for wind.

Rail and ferry services have also been affected in Scotland.

Gusts of over 70mph have swept through parts of the UK and temperature hit 21.4C (70.5F) in eastern England.

The year's warmest temperature was recorded in Lakenheath, Suffolk, on Saturday - beating the previous highest temperature of the year, when the mercury hit 19.9C in north-west Scotland in January.

The most significant impacts of the storm have been felt in the north-west and south-west of England and parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Thousands of passengers have experienced delays after flights were cancelled at airports including Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Belfast City.

The vast majority of flights affected were those travelling within the UK and to and from the island of Ireland.

EasyJet flights to and from the Isle of Man have also been halted.

In Northern Ireland, part of the roof of the Titanic Belfast museum was damaged by the storm.

The 11th named storm in eight months, Storm Kathleen was named by the Irish met service, Met Éireann, because the Republic of Ireland was expected to feel its effects most acutely.

Tens of thousands of customers have been left without electricity as the storm moves across the Irish Republic. In Northern Ireland, trees have fallen in the strong winds.

Some Irish Sea coastal regions have seen gusts of 69mph(111km/h) and large waves.

Parts of Scotland have also seen very high winds, with the UK's strongest gusts of 101mph recorded at the summit of Cairngorm, a mountain in the Scottish Highlands.

In Capel Curing, north Wales, wind speeds reached 68mph.

P&O Ferries have cancelled ferry services travelling between Larne in Northern Ireland and Cairnryan in Scotland. Ferry services to and from the Isle of Man have also been disrupted.

The strong winds have also seen sports matches rearranged, with Saturday evening's EPCR Challenge Cup rugby match between Edinburgh and Bayonne moved from the Hive Stadium to Murrayfield.

Storm Kathleen is expected to ease by Sunday evening.

Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said: "The storm is the reason we are seeing the warmer temperatures, because the location of the storm - situated out towards the west of the UK - is bringing a southerly wind across the UK.

"This is bringing those warmer temperatures from the continent, meaning we are likely to see temperatures reaching 22C."

She added: "However, the further west you are, where those strongest winds are in that yellow warning area, despite the temperatures being above average it will feel a little colder."

More than 110 flood alerts are in place across England. The Environment Agency has issued 14 flood warnings where flooding is expected.

RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: "This intense period of stormy weather is going to prove extremely challenging for anyone driving on the western side of the UK.

"We strongly urge drivers to avoid exposed coasts and higher routes where the impact of the very strong winds is most likely to be felt."