STORM Doris wreaked havoc across south Essex with high winds disrupting travel and sparking power cuts.

Gusts reached speeds of 65mph in some parts of the county yesterday - causing major delays for commuters and battering homes.

Services across the entire c2c network were disrupted because of the high winds, with delays and cancellations being put in place throughout the morning.

Plastic sheeting caught in overhead wires meant that passengers travelling with c2c to Grays, West Ham and Upminster were forced to use alternative routes either on the London Underground or Greater Anglia lines.

In a warning to passengers, c2c Tweeted: “We would recommend leaving plenty of time for your journey as disruption is due to the weather.”

Power cuts struck homes across the region and South Benfleet Primary School, in High Road, was forced to close after overhead electricity lines were damaged.

Motorists driving over the Thames also faced serious delays yesterday morning as the Dartford Crossing was closed.

Highways England issued drivers with advice after announcing that the bridge was closed past 6pm due to “high winds and adverse weather.”

A spokesman said the bridge, which closed at 10am for safety reasons after Storm Doris hit the south east, would reopen as soon as winds drop to a safe speed. Guidelines dictate that this will not be until crosswinds drop below speeds of 60mph or headwinds below speeds of 70mph.

Motorists were directed to use the tunnel instead, with two of the four lanes allocated to traffic heading out of Essex into Kent.

Mark Cundy, from Westcliff, said: “Many of my colleagues from Kent didn’t even bother attempting to come in and those that did headed home early to tackle the tunnel.

“My spot on Westcliff Parade looked a bit like Tracey Island with trees swooning in the wind, but none fell down as far as I could see.”

A fallen tree was photographed at the junction of Marcus Avenue and Fermoy Road, in Thorpe Bay.

Elsewhere, drivers had to dodge debris that had blown onto major roads, including the A127.

Kevin Fox, from Southchurch, said: “People kept slamming on their brakes because a big cardboard box had blown into the road. Luckily it wasn’t completely obstructing the lane.”

Emergency services were tested as well, as power cuts affected the Essex Police control room in Chelmsford - hampering its ability to take emergency calls.

The force warned people via Twitter to report non-emergencies online.

The fire service tackled fallen trees all over the county including in Benfleet, Brentwood and Rayleigh. Crews worked with Essex County Council highways officers to clear the obstructions quickly.

In Southend, the pier was closed for the day for safety reasons and the market was cancelled due to the high winds.