Trains on the main line through Cumbria have been disrupted and power to more than 1,000 homes has been out as strong winds hit the county.

The A66 - one of the main routes across the north of England - has also been shut to high sided vehicles by Highways England.

It was closed to high sided and vulnerable vehicles from junction 40 of the M6 and the A1 at Scotch corner for most of this afternoon, but has reopened this evening.

Drivers are being warned the route is also blocked with queuing traffic between Brough and Bowes due to an overturned lorry.

Highways England said: "Road users are advised to take extra care when driving today as strong winds are currently being experienced in the North of England."

On the railways, National Rail Enquiries say that trains on the West Coast Main Line between Penrith and Lancaster are having to slow down this afternoon due to high winds.

They predict services between Carlisle and Lancaster may face delays of up to 30 minutes until around 6pm.

The winds affected Transpennine Express services between Manchester and Edinburgh and Virgin Trains operations between London and Scotland.

ScotRail services between Glasgow and Carlisle or Newcastle, which travel through Annan and Gretna, have also been affected.

National Rail Enquiries state that services between Glasgow Central and Carlisle via Dumfries may be delayed or revised to start or terminate at Carlisle and replacement buses will operate between Dumfries and Carlisle.

Meanwhile more than 1,000 homes across three areas - Alston, Maryport and Holmrook - have been affected by power cuts.

Initially problems emerged in Holmrook in the west of the county, where over 300 homes were affected.

Engineers worked quickly to restore power.

Meanwhile in Maryport 580 homes in the CA15 postcode have been without power. A further 163 properties are off in Alston, in the CA9 postcode.

All three problems were because of damage to overhead lines.

Cumbria Police have been alerted to a number of incidents.

Early calls received included a tree which had fallen, partially blocking the westbound A69 near Brampton.

Local authority highways engineers were also called to Beaumont, west of Carlisle, where a telegraph pole was blown over near Kirkandrews-on-Eden.

In west Cumbria, a farmer helped clear a large corrugated iron shed after it had been blown from a field onto a road at Asby.

Police also received reports of a chimney being blown from a roof in Keswick.

Firefighters were called to St John's Street shortly before 2.30pm.

Early reports were that a chimney was hanging over a walkway. The crew was able to make the dangerous chimney pot safe.

In Carlisle, firefighters were called to the Kingstown Industrial Estate to remove a sign which had snapped off in the high winds and was hanging over a public area in Millbrook Road.

Eden Council also said that Storm Barbara had claimed its Christmas tree at the front of Penrith town hall.

The tree, which was donated by AW Jenkinson Forest Products, was deemed too badly damaged to put back up and was removed and composted.

Met Office forecasters predict an easing of the weather on Christmas Eve before Storm Conor moves in.

It is expected to bring more gales for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with gusts of 50-60mph predicted.

Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Dan Harris said: "The wet and windy weather is a result of two deep Atlantic low pressure systems crossing the Atlantic and passing close to the northwest of the UK bringing the potential for some disruption to power supplies and travel, and possibly structural damage.

"Although we need to be prepared for the storms, it’s important to note that there will also be some less unsettled weather for many on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day."