DHAKA: Strong winds and heavy rain have lashed southern England as widespread flooding continues to hit parts of the UK.

The Met Office has severe weather warnings in place on Saturday for the south of England, south Wales, Northern Ireland and northern Scotland.

Thousands of sandbags are being used in counties including Gloucestershire, Somerset, Berkshire and Surrey, reports BBC.

An 85-year-old male passenger died after a freak wave hit a British cruise ship in the English Channel.
Ship airlift

BBC weather presenter Nick Miller said the latest storm to hit the UK left its mark as a deep area of low pressure moved north, with winds of up 80mph (129km/h).

He said: "Saturday will start very windy with bands of wet weather working south around that area of low pressure as it pulls away to the north east."

The Environment Agency has 22 severe flood warnings - meaning "danger to life" - in place, as well as about 200 flood warnings and more that 300 flood alerts in England and Wales. There are a handful of flood alerts in Scotland.

Water crashed through a window of cruise ship the MS Marco Polo, injuring several passengers, as it headed for its home port of Tilbury in Essex.

The man, and a woman in her 70s, were airlifted off the ship but he later died.

Steve Cock, Lugger Hotel, Penzance: "Waves were crashing over the hotel"

Emergency services and the Army rescued 32 people trapped in a beachfront restaurant in Milford on Sea, Hampshire, after wind-blown shingle smashed windows and a tidal surge flooded the ground floor.

Conditions were described as "extremely dangerous" but police said there were no serious injuries.

Rescuers were searching for two hill walkers missing on Britain`s highest peak, Ben Nevis in the Highlands. The operation will resume at first light.

BDST: 1157  HRS, FEB 15,  2014