Lancashire is picking up the pieces after winds of up to 80mph battered the region.

Blackpool's illuminations were battered and bruised by winds gusting up to 100mph with dsplays including Alice in Wonderland, Sing a Song of Sixpence and Hickory Dickory Dock suffering extensive damagevalued at hundreds of thousands of pounds.

And the gales stripped Darwen Tower of its crowning glory when the dome blew off and it landed by the side of the monument.

By lunchtime yesterday, firefighters had dealt with dozens of trees that had either caused damage or were dangerous.

In Earnsdale Road, Darwen, the owner of a VW Scirocco woke up to find the car crumbled under a large tree, which had been ripped out of the ground by the wind.

Power cables fell down closing the A6 Market Street in Adlington, while Manchester Road in Baxenden was closed both ways while police try to secure a dangerous tree.

Firefighters were called into action to remove a fallen tree from the garden of a house in Hillside Street, Rawtenstall, which was leaning against a telegraph pole at 10.30pm last night; another tree from Plane Tree Road in Blackburn, which was threatening to fall onto a house at 9pm; and another tree blocking Preston New Road, Blackburn at midnight.

Two tin sheets from the canopy at the Esso Garage in Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, had to be taken down by firefighters over fears they were about to blow into the road, and an aerial ladder platform was used to secure a loose metal panel at Blackburn Ice Arena at 1am.

Winds could still reach 50mph today but are forecast to gradually ease off.

Matt Dobson, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said the conditions in Lancashire were particularly dangerous.

He said: "These are some of the strongest winds we have seen for two or three years in some of these areas.

"They are occurring in southern Cumbria and Lancashire, which are also seeing pretty heavy rain, causing treacherous conditions on the roads."

"They are difficult conditions and there is a risk of trees falling."

The Highways Agency has put drivers on 'amber alert' for the first time this autumn with gales making conditions hazardous.

Drivers of high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorbikes are advised to take extra care when travelling due to the increased risk of vehicles being blown over.

Meanwhile householders are advised to secure loose items in gardens and outdoor areas.

Tom Tobler, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said the North West could still see 50mph gusts this lunchtime while the winds ease.

He said: "We have a deep low pressure that has come in from the Atlantic.

"As we go through the morning, it will head out to the North Sea, and as it goes further away the winds will ease."

Lancashire also saw rainfall of 7-10mm in just 12 hours yesterday.

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