THE region is bracing itself for more strong winds and rain as we head into the New Year.

There are 25 flood warnings in place in the South West, the Environment Agency said this morning, after a blustery night which saw trees fall down and Christmas decorations take a battering in the gusty winds.

Roads were affected on Monday (December 30) as many headed back to work for the first time since Chrismtas.

A lane remains closed on the M48 Second Severn crossing and the motorway is completely shut to high-sided and vulnerable vehicles, because of the strong winds.

A fallen tree is blocking the A423 Badminton Road near The Bell at Old Sodbury.

There are currently no flood warnings for the South Gloucestershire or Gloucestershire area, the 25 areas on alert are mainly in Devon. But the Met Office has warned of further gale-force winds and heavy rain as people celebrate the start of 2014.

Today is expected to remain windy but mild with maximum temperatures of 10 degrees. Overnight it will by dry but 40mph winds are expected to hit the region andheavy rain will follow tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow night and New Year's Day will see a mixture of sushine and showers and more strong winds.

The stormy weather follows widespread flooding on Christmas Eve. However, the area has escaped the worst of the bad weather which has left thousands of people in the south of the country without power for up to five days over the Christmas period.