Households urged to 'shut all doors and windows' on Friday and Saturday

UK households are being urged to shut and secure all doors and windows this weekend after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for extreme winds from Friday evening.

The forecaster has issued a 30-hour weather warning affecting 44 UK areas including in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as Northern Ireland after officially naming the weather front as Storm Amy.

Weather experts are predicting strong winds will batter much of the UK from 6pm on Friday, October 3 until 11.59pm on Saturday, with a risk of possible power cuts, disruption to travel and damage to homes and gardens, particularly in the north of England and Wales, and all of Scotland.

The forecaster said in its advice on how to stay safe in a storm that households should be looking to securely fasten and close doors and windows particularly those facing into the wind, as well as garage doors.

Its advice says: "Close and securely fasten doors and windows, particularly those on the windward side of the house, and especially large doors such as those on garages.

"Secure loose objects such as ladders, garden furniture or anything else that could be blown into windows and other glazing and break them.

"Park vehicles in a garage, if available; otherwise keep them clear of buildings, trees, walls and fences.

"Close and secure loft trapdoors with bolts, particularly if roof pitch is less than 30°

"If the house is fitted with storm shutters over the windows then ensure that these are closed and fastened."

It also said that you should move your bed from the wall if your house has a tall chimney stack.

During the storm itself, people are being urged to stay indoors as much as possible and don't open internal doors unless necessary.

It added: "Stay indoors as much as possible. If possible, enter and leave your house through doors in the sheltered side, closing them behind you

"Open internal doors only as needed, and close them behind you."

The forecaster said that strong winds will be up to 80mph gusts in some areas.

In its forecast, the Met Office said: "Storm Amy is expected to bring a spell of very strong winds to many parts of northern Britain later on Friday and into Saturday. Westerly winds will pick up during Friday, initially in the west before extending eastwards during Friday night. Gusts of 50 to 60 mph are likely for many areas and may reach 60 to 70 mph in some places for a time.

"Exposed coasts and hills will see the highest gusts which could exceed 80 mph. The strongest winds currently look more likely over parts of northern Scotland. This will lead to difficult driving conditions for high sided vehicles on prone routes such as cross winds on exposed or high level routes."