STORM Deirdre battered Sussex today causing flooding, fallen trees and dangerous driving conditions.

There were reports of flooding in Eastbourne and Patching and trees blocked the A26 near Crowborough and the A259 near Bexhill.

Road conditions were particularly bad as a result of the weather.

There were several incidents throughout the day, including a six-vehicle pile-up near Lewes and a collision between a car and a van that left one vehicle on its side on the A259 in Brighton.

Football matches at Lewes FC and Whitehawk FC were also called off during the first half because the weather made the pitches unplayable.

A yellow warning of heavy rain and strong winds up to 70mph is in place for Northern Ireland, south-west England and South Wales until 6pm.

No official warning is in place for Sussex, but the county was lashed by freezing rain and strong winds for most of the day.

Snow and rare freezing rain are expected to fall in some parts of the UK, creating dangerous travelling conditions.

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge told the Press Association: “If you’re not under a snow and ice warning you’re probably under a wind and rain warning.

“The good thing is that Deirdre is expected to clear out the cold air and become much milder across the weekend.”