HOMES have been left with no power this evening following hurricane force winds across Wirral.

2,500 Scottish Power customers on the peninsula are without power.

The company is working to resolve the problem but it is understood that adverse weather is making things difficult.

Meanwhile, Merseyside Police have been called to sheltered housing in West Kirby after a large portion of the roof of a block of flats was blown away by gale force winds.

Officers were called to Lingdale Court, on Lingdale Road, at 8.22pm following reports of concern for safety.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has advised that the building is unsafe and structural engineers from the local authority are assessing the extent of the damage.

Nine people from the flats have been evacuated and a cordon has been put in place.

Hurricane-force gales have causing wide-spread disruption across Wirral and Merseyside.

A red alert for the whole of the Northwest was issued by the Met Office, meaning people should take action as exceptionally strong winds hit the region.

The Met Office warned members of the public to “alter their travel arrangements during this spell of storm force winds".

The Coastguard station at Crosby reported Gale Force 12 had been recorded, meaning the wind had reached hurricane level, and is the most severe for 17 years. 

Read more about today's storm here.