Storm Franklin: Mersey floodgates opened and transport disruption as high winds hit Liverpool

The Met Office have put a yellow weather warning in place over Merseyside as Storm Franklin batters the region with high winds.

Gusts are predicted to reach up to 69mph on Monday morning before they begin to die down in the afternoon.

The yellow alert includes a ‘danger to life’ due the high risk of flying debris and flooding.

Storm Franklin comes just days after a man in his 50s was killed at Switch Island, Netherton, during Storm Eunice when debris smashed through the windscreen of a van he was travelling in.

River Mersey floodgates opened

Due to the high amount of rain in Merseyside and the surrounding region the Environment Agency North West opened floodgates on the River Mersey into the Didsbury Basin late on Sunday night.

The drainage basin is used when the water levels in the Mersey get dangerously high and the measure is aimed at protecting around 5,000 homes.

Manchester is among the worst hit regions for flooding in the the north of England.

On Merseyside, the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for the River Alt between Formby and Huyton on Sunday night.

And the Mersey Estuary at Warrington was also issued with a flood warning.

Transport disruption on Merseyside

Merseyrail have warned of disruptions to services on Monday due to severe weather and have already cancelled some early morning services due to safety checks on the tracks.

The wind has caused barrier damage between Southport and Birkdale and tree has fallen on the track on the Chester and Ellsmere Port line - a number of services have been cancelled as a result.

Commuters should check the Merseyrail website or @merseyrail on Twitter for more information.

National Rail operators have urged passengers not to travel today as services are expected to face major disruption due to the gale-force winds and rain across the country and Northern Rail have cancelled all North West trains this morning.

Mersey Ferries have once again been suspended due to the adverse conditions.

Meanwhile, on the M6, a lorry burst into flames after high winds caused it to collide with a bridge.