Fallen trees crush cars and homes as Storm Gareth tears across Britain with 80mph winds, heavy rain and flying debris sparking travel chaos on 'Black Wednesday' (36 Pics)

Met Office danger to life warnings in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and large parts of England until 3pm
There are 35 flood warnings in place across the country with winds of up to 80mph in some coastal areas
Racegoers at Cheltenham Festival dodged disappointed after officials inspected confirmed it will take place
Travel disruption is likely as a deep low pressure system from the Atlantic will bring wet weather and winds

Storm Gareth brought this tree crashing down on the Brentwood Hotel in Moorgate, Rotherham today. Firefighters were called and the building was cordoned off

Another tree wreaked havoc in west London when it fell on this

A Ryanair plane struggled to land in strong cross winds at Leeds Bradford Airport this morning, pictured. The aircraft was affected by Storm Gareth which has brought gales of up to 80mph to Britain

Storm Gareth has also been taking its toll on cliffs, with 1,000 tonnes of rock crashing down onto the beach at West Bay, pictured, due to the wet and windy conditions

Huge waves crash onto the pier at Blackpool while a man tries to take photos as Storm Gareth brings wet and windy weather

A woman struggles to keep hold of her scarf as she walks through a windy Liverpool this morning as Storm Gareth blows

After an early racecourse inspection in Gloucestershire, officials confirmed Ladies Day at Cheltenham Festival will go ahead as planned

Fallen trees and branches are pictured blocking Brickyard Lane in Melton, Leicestershire amid windy conditions

Storm Gareth will bring 80mph winds, heavy rain and flooding to Britain today. There are 35 flood warnings in place

Mountain goats were seen in Llandudno town centre in Wales amid weather chaos caused by Storm Gareth

The cliffs at West Bay in Dorset, pictured, are around 140ft high and the pile of rubble is around 30ft high, with locals warned not to disturb it

A rescue team searched the rubble at West Bay cliffs in Dorset, a popular spot with dog walkers, pictured, but found no sign of any casualties

Sniffer dogs and thermal imaging equipment was used at the West Bay cliff fall in Dorset but found no trace of anyone. Walkers continue to use the beach and have been told to steer clear of the rocks

Dramatic images from the coastline at Porthcawl in Wales show huge waves crashing against sea walls as Storm Gareth rages

Waves are pictured crashing near the harbour in Porthcawl, Wales today as wind speeds surpass 50mph

Racegoers at Ladies Day in Cheltenham are pictured holding on to their hats as winds blow in Gloucestershire

Racegoers arrive for the first day of the Cheltenham Festival in Gloucestershire on a wet and windy spring morning yesterday

The Cheltenham racing festival is under threat because of Storm Gareth, after fans of the flagship festival in Gloucestershire battled against the elements on Tuesday (pictured) as the course suffered gales and washouts

Security guards in the rain at the Cheltenham Festival, amid fears Ladies' Day could be postponed

Waves crash against the seafront and railway line as a CrossCountry train travels through Dawlish in Devon this morning

A tree on the roof of a school in Greenwich, South East London, today - with experts saying it had a large cavity at its base

Dozens of the Kashmiri goats sought shelter on lower ground in Llandudno, North Wales, as they escaped the gusty gales and heavy rain

A ferry arrives at the Port of Dover in Kent as bad weather causes ferry delays on Tuesday afternoon

The main line through Dawlish in Devon was shut to some services on Tuesday as the storm sends huge waves crashing in

Lorries queue at the entrance to the Port of Dover in Kent as bad weather causes cross Channel ferry delays

A tree fell onto a road in high winds today in Harringay, North London, with a Mercedes A180 pictured behind police tape

Forecasters have warned Britain is about to be battered by the worst period of weather since last year's Beast from the East. Pictured: the predicted weather on Thursday and Friday