UK-Two people have died as strong winds and heavy rain hit southern England, adding to problems already caused by widespread storms and flooding.

An 85-year-old man died after a freak wave hit a British cruise ship in the English Channel.

In central London, a 49-year-old woman was killed when her car was crushed by falling masonry.

More than 140,000 homes are without power and severe weather warnings are in place for much of the UK.

Energy Networks Association spokesman Tim Field said there had been “some really quite significant damage overnight”, but he added that power had also been restored to 310,000 homes during the night.

Winds of up 80mph (129km/h) – combined with ongoing problems due to flooding – have also caused major disruption to roads and railways.

Some 32 people had to be rescued from a beachfront restaurant in Milford on Sea, Hampshire, after wind-blown shingle smashed windows and a tidal surge flooded the ground floor.

The government’s emergency committee, Cobra, is expected to meet on Saturday and Sunday to discuss the situation.

BBC weather presenter Nick Miller said the latest storm to hit the UK left its mark as a deep area of low pressure moved north.

He said: “Saturday will start very windy with bands of wet weather working south around that area of low pressure as it pulls away to the north east.”

The Environment Agency has 21 severe flood warnings - meaning “danger to life” – in place, as well as about 200 flood warnings and more that 300 flood alerts in England and Wales. There are a handful of flood alerts in Scotland.