THE WORST storm since the one that hit England in 1987 has wreaked havoc in the South.

Hurricane-force winds of up to 100mph and torrential rain left a trail of destruction and the clean-up bill is set to cost millions.

Power cuts plunged at least 30,000 homes into darkness, uprooted trees and blocked roads, while widespread flooding made driving treacherous.

There was travel chaos this morning and thousands of properties have been damaged.

A severe weather warning was issued - with violent storm-force 11 winds experienced.

The storm has so far claimed one life. One person was killed last night and two people badly injured when a tree fell on two cars at Hindhead on the Hampshire/Surrey border.

In Southampton, Nancy Thomas and her husband, Chris, had a lucky escape when a 15-metre oak tree smashed into their house in Wentworth Gardens, Newtown. The tree hit a shed and ripped through a bathroom ceiling. Mr Thomas said: "We just heard this almighty bang and went upstairs to the bathroom and saw what had happened. My wife was pretty shaken up afterwards and couldn't really sleep."

Luckily, their two sons were out at the time.

The Environment Agency has issued 140 flood warnings. High spring tides combined with high south and south-westerly winds to batter coastal areas. A Met Office spokesman said hurricane-force winds had battered the South Coast but the highest recorded gust in Southampton was 53mph - under hurricane strength. "Probably in terms of the South Coast, this is the worst since 1987," he said.

One Southampton resident used a chainsaw to remove a tree that had fallen on his car. David Miles, 26, of Bridge Road, Woolston, slept through the storm and only discovered the tree had fallen on the car when a neighbour alerted him this morning.

In Upper Deacon Road, Thornhill, Southampton, city-council gardeners began removing a giant oak tree that had blocked the road.

Schools in Southampton stayed open today.