STORM ELEANOR: Live updates as impact of storm becomes known

Forecasters had issued an amber weather warning - and warned there was a 'risk to life' - ahead of 65mph winds overnight.

Coastguard rescuers in Knott End came to the aid of a motorist after their car became stranded on a flooded road at Conder Green, with the service urging people not to 'attempt to drive vehicles through causeways or flooded roads during bad weather'.

A spokesman said the young woman was stuck in her hatchback as the water lapped at her windows.

Describing the woman was 'hysterical', he said: "The battery had failed but she had managed to open the windows three quarters of the way, and the team was able to extract her through the window and walk her to safety."

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And one person, believed to be a teenage boy, had to be guided to safety by firefighters close to Fleetwood docks following fears he was being cut off by the incoming tide.

He was led out the water just as Coastguard staff arrived – with the river ‘up to his knees’.

"When the weather is like this we recommend people stay way back from the water," one Coastguard worker said.

Blackpool Transport said trams were terminating at North Pier because of damaged caused by Eleanor.

That problem was fixed and trams were returning to normal.

However, the service later said there were no trams running between the Cabin stop in Bispham and Starr Gate due to an 'overhead line problem.'

A replacement bus service was put on until around 10am when the problem was put right and trams began running properly again.

Firefighters from Wesham were also called to a business in Cartford Lane, Little Eccleston, at 12.45am. They pumped water from a cellar 'which had flooded due to storm conditions', a spokesman said.

Crews from South Shore fire station tackled a car fire in Ivy Avenue, which was being treated as arson, at 10.55pm yesterday, but there were no weather-related incidents on the Fylde coast, the spokesman added.

Tens of thousands of homes in Ireland lost power because of the stormy weather. On the Fylde coast, 25 homes were left without electricity in Bispham, though that outage was caused by a fault and not Eleanor, Electricity North West said.

The only other outages in Lancashire were in Coppull, and Lower Darwen. Repairs were delayed by the bad weather.

The Rossall Point Observation Tower said the strongest gust of wind was recorded at around 1.25am, and measured 55.7 knotts - or just under 65mph.

A spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said she was not aware of any major incidents caused by Eleanor, while Coastguard rescuers in Fleetwood - who were geared up and ready to go out on any calls - also had an uneventful evening.

One official said he believed the warnings put out ahead of Eleanor's arrival may have contributed to the lack of emergencies during the storm's peak, with people heeding advice to protect their homes, and to avoid the seafront during high tide, which reached 11m last night.

The North West Ambulance Service said it was not aware of any storm-related calls in Lancashire, though it said there were some in Cumbria.

However, Blackpool Council has warned people to stay off the promenade for two hours either side of the 11.53am high tide today for 'their own safety'.

A spokeswoman said she also had no reports of any flooding or damage in the resort.

Despite the Met Office's alert for people to be aware, and predictions of flooding close to the River Wyre, the region appears to have escaped the brunt of the storm.

A yellow warning for strong wind will remain in place until 7pm.

The Met Office said: "Storm Eleanor is now over the North Sea and although winds are not expected to be as strong as during Tuesday evening and last night, it has left a swath of strong winds in its wake.

"Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are expected with some journeys taking longer. Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges are also possible, and there is also the potential for some short term loss of power supplies.

"The level of expected impact has also been reduced from medium to low to reflect the general decrease in winds speeds."

Flood warnings had been issued across Wyre, and expected in some places, but a spokesman for the council said: "The coast managed the escape the worst of the storm and defences coped well, as a result we saw no major flooding.

"We are aware of debris along our coastline and our officers will deal with the situation in due course.

"Our storm boards will remain in place for the lunchtime tide today.

" However we are ensuring access for emergency services particularly in Fleetwood."

This page will be updated with the latest information. Send your pictures and videos of Storm Eleanor to [email protected]