BATTERED BY KATHLEEN

65mph gales & rain cause hell .. as new French storm blows in

- DAN WARBURTON

STORM Kathleen left havoc in its wake yesterday after pounding Britain with 65mph winds and more heavy rain.

Gales and giant waves swept beach huts into the sea in Bournemouth, Dorset, Hordle, Hants, and Falmouth, Cornwall.

The River Arun burst its banks in West Sussex, flooding the seaside town of Littlehampton with residents evacuated or urged to reach higher ground. Forecasters issued 78 red flood warnings, 59 for England, 10 for Scotland and nine for Wales.

And they warned of more chaos today with Storm Pierrick - named by French forecasters - set to cross the Channel and pick up the baton from Kathleen, which first blew in at the weekend.

It is predicted to bring more destructive winds and propel them cross-country within hours.

Fields, roads and properties could all be blasted, sparking travel delays. Early yesterday fire crews scrambled to severe flooding at Medmerry holiday park in Chichester, West Sussex.

Emergency services evacuated more than 150 people and took one to hospital after showing signs of hypothermia.

Julie Everitt, 67, was petrified as water rushed into her front garden up to her door, while two toilet bowls floated down her road.