CALSHOT lifeboat went to the aid of a German schooner with 37 people on board as 70mph winds and heavy rain battered the south coast overnight.

The vessel started dragging its anchor near the Brambles Bank in the Solent shortly after 5am. The lifeboat stood by in case people had to be taken off the boat.

A lifeboat spokesman said: "We were called out in really bad weather after the 40-metre craft started heading towards the Brambles Bank."

Elsewhere, drivers had to contend with flooding on the northbound lane of the A326 between Marchwood and Totton.

Flooding occurred under a railway bridge over the A337 at Lymington, and a fallen tree blocked the B3055 Brockenhurst to Beaulieu Road.

Engineers were trying to restore electricity to 300 homes at Romsey, Ower, Wellow and West Wellow this morning following a power cut at 5.30am.

Meanwhile, local rail passengers faced delays on South West Trains services to London. A fallen tree at Sway, near New Milton blocked the track, forcing Bournemouth to Southampton trains to be cancelled.

Ferry services between Lymington and Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight were also cancelled due to rough seas.