The Orwell Bridge could close this afternoon as the region braces itself for heavy rain and gusts of 85mph.

The bridge is currently under assessment by highways teams in anticipation of bad weather this afternoon, although police have advised high-sided vehicles not to use the bridge.

The Queen Elizabeth II bridge near Dartford tunnel has already closed today and is not expected to reopen until 4am tomorrow.

Forecasters expect gusts of between 60-70mph along the Suffolk and Essex coast this afternoon, with winds further inland still reaching up to 50mph. Heavy rainfall is also expected.

Worse weather is expected tonight, with southwesterly gales strengthening across parts of southeast England.

The Met Office has placed an amber warning across the Suffolk and Essex coast from around midnight tonight. Gusts should reach up to 85mph along exposed coasts and 75mph inland overnight.

The Environment Agency currently has 13 flood alerts and one flood warning issued across its Anglia region, although none affect Suffolk or Essex.

More than 50 Greater Anglia services have been cancelled across the region from 3.50pm today. Trains will be running slower across the network from 6pm while no trains are expected to run until 10am tomorrow.

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