Channel Islands wake up to fallen trees and blocked roads after Storm Austen

Islanders and businesses have woken up to damage from Storm Austen, with many services closed and roads blocked by fallen trees and debris. At their peak, storm-force 10 winds were recorded, with wind speeds of 84mph recorded at Jersey Airport. I n Guernsey, top wind speeds were recorded at 76 mph at 5:41am on Friday 23 October. Jersey Infrastructure and Environment services received more than 110 reports relating to damage, with almost 100 involving trees.

Governments thank the public for keeping roads clear, which allowed services to respond quickly to incidents. Credit: ITV Channel Jersey's honorary police were up early responding to felled trees in the hardest-hit areas of the island. Carol Stockhill of St Ouens Honorary Police told ITV News: "We've been out checking the roads to make them safe for people who need to go out in this weather, so this morning we have been moving some light branches blocking roads that are full of trees.

"We've been calling the tree surgeons out to make the roads safe for everybody" The GSPCA is asking the public for patience after Storm Austin damaged their shelter site. The Guernsey Society for the Prevention and Cruelty to Animals has warned that their phone lines and internet connections are down after a large tree came down into their back car park. Steve Byrne, the GSPCA manager, said: "The most important thing is that all of the animals in our care are safe and well, and thankfully all of our staff and volunteers who have attended the shelter are also safe.

"We have some damage to an aviary and some materials connected with our kennel build project, but our team has been working hard throughout the day to secure and tidy the site." Multiple felled trees have been reported across the islands. Credit: ITV Channel Organisations across the Channel Islands have warned of closures, cancellations, and delays. While most Liberty Bus transport services are running again, services may be disrupted by road closures, flooding, debris and fallen trees.

Travel is disrupted at Grouville, Bonne Nuit, and Route Du Mont Cochon. Both airports will remain closed until at least teatime, causing real difficulty for anyone trying to get away for half term. All flights out of Jersey are cancelled until at least 5:30pm, with no planes currently on the island. Nothing will run in Guernsey before 4pm. There may be further disruption as strong winds continue into the afternoon. Travellers are advised to check directly with airlines for the latest information and only travel to the airport if your flight is confirmed to be operating.

All government run schools in both Jersey and Guernsey are closed on Friday, as well as all Jersey Heritage sites. Credit: St Ouen Honorary Police Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...