Police said Friday is expected to see the strongest winds in the region since the Boxing Day storm in 1998 which caused widespread disruption.

A wind speed of 114mph brought by Storm Eowyn has been recorded in Ireland, the fastest since records began, Irish forecaster Met Eireann said.

Nationwide Building Society said that despite some modest recent improvements in housing affordability, the deposit hurdle remains high.

Further Met Office weather warnings for rain have been issued for Hertfordshire as the county is already under a wind alert for Storm Éowyn.