Great South Run cancelled due to weather alert as Storm Ashley moves in

The Great South Run has been cancelled due to a forecast for "high winds and rain" - with Storm Ashley expected to hit many parts of the UK.

More than 20,000 runners were expected to take part in Sunday's event in Portsmouth.

Organisers apologised but said they weren't confident the 10-mile run could be staged safely.

Storm Ashley - the first to be named this season - has been described as a "weather bomb" and the Met Office says high winds are likely across the whole country on Sunday.

Parts of Scotland could see gusts of 80mph, with 50-60mph possible in areas of the North West.

Organisers of the run said the wind could "compromise our event infrastructure including our medical facilities".

"This combined with high tide levels, potential debris, and the exposure along the seafront means that we can't guarantee the safe delivery of the event," a statement said.

They said the decision hadn't been taken lightly and was reached after liaising with the Met Office, medical and safety teams and local authorities.

"We know how disappointing this is and we hope you can understand why this decision has been made," the statement added.

Runners will be able to switch their entry to next year's event or claim a refund.

An amber wind warning has been issued from 9am on Sunday until midnight in western Scotland, with the worst conditions forecast for the afternoon.

The Met Office says there's a possibility of damaged buildings, disrupted travel and power cuts.

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It also warns of potential "injuries and danger to life" from waves and debris in coastal areas due to the winds coinciding with high tides.

A less serious yellow alert is in place from 3am Sunday until midnight over a wider area: parts of West Wales, Northern Ireland, the entirety of Scotland, and Cumbria.

The wind in those areas is forecast to gust to 50-60mph inland and could reach 60-70mph on exposed coasts and hills.

A further yellow warning for northern Scotland and the Hebrides is in force from midnight until 9am on Monday.

Sky News meteorologist Kirsty McCabe said Storm Ashley was expected to "rapidly deepen on Saturday night".

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She said it would interact "with a very strong jet stream and undergo explosive cyclogenesis" - where the central pressure drops by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours - also referred to as a "weather bomb".

"While England and Wales will experience some wet and windy weather, the worst conditions will be further north and west," McCabe added.

(c) Sky News 2024: Great South Run cancelled due to weather alert as Storm Ashley moves in