Highways England has issued a severe weather alert for the North West's major roads as Storm Doris sweeps in.

Motorists are being urged to change their plans, or slow down if they have to travel.

Wirral Globe:

Trains have been cancelled between Bidston and Wrexham after a tree was blown onto the line at Caergwrle.

Services between Hoylake and West Kirby are "at a standstill" after a tree fell on the track.

The Chester line is also disrupted and trains have been canclled from Port Sunlight due to debris blown onto the track.

In Wallasey, Gorsey Lane northbound is closed due to fallen tree, causing disruption to motorists using the tunnel.

Trees are also down on the Wirral Way and the council is urging people to take care...

Mersey Ferry sailings have been cancelled due to the severe weather.

The southbound carriageway of the Strand in Liverpool has been closed and diversions put in place.

Gusts of wind of up to 100mph has also closed the Port of Liverpool.

Water Street in the city centre has also been closed.

Flights to and from the Isle of Man have been cancelled at John Lennon Airport.

A spokesman for John Lennon Airport told the Globe: "We’ve had some delays to flights also, but no others cancelled to date – but very much subject to change.

"We suggest anyone travelling by air or coming to meet passengers check with their airline for the latest updates."

For live travel updates click here.

On the region's motorways and trunk roads, heavy rain and winds gusting up to 70mph will put truck drivers, motorcyclists and those with caravans at high risk.

Drivers are being urged to avoid these routes:

M53 J1-J2 Wallasey to Birkenhead

M56 J12 Runcorn and Sutton Weaver

M58 J1 Kirkby

M6 J20-J21 Thelwall Viaduct

M6 J26-J27

M58 to Standish

M6 J36-J45 Through Cumbria

M60 J10-J12 Barton Bridge through to M62

M60 J16-J17 Pendlebury and Kersley to Prestwich and Whitefield

M62 J18-J27 Between Manchester and Leeds

Doris is likely to damage buildings and send debris flying when it set in at around 6am on Thursday, the Met Office has said.

Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said: “Winds are really starting to pick up now, mainly across western parts of the country.”

Network Rail also warned of delays and cancellations after imposing speed restrictions for safety reasons.

Limits of 50mph would be observed on some services run by Southeastern, Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern Railways, Grand Central, TransPennine Express and Virgin Trains East Coast.

Highways England has issued a weather alert on major roads. Particularly at risk are high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorbikes and drivers are “strongly advised” to avoid travelling on some stretches of road in Yorkshire, the Midlands, and the East and North West.

Richard Leonard, head of road safety at Highways England, said: “We are urging drivers to consider changing their plans if necessary and to slow down in stormy weather.”

Amber warnings predict strong winds and heavy rain in parts of north Wales, the Midlands, and the East and North West, while winds as fast as 60mph are also expected to batter southern England.

Storm Doris is expected to move on quickly, with the worst of the weather gone by Thursday evening.

While further Atlantic gusts will bring more rain and wind through the weekend and into next week, they are not expected to reach the heights of Doris.