GALE force winds caused commuter chaos after roads and railway lines and bus routes were left blocked by fallen trees this morning.

Winds of more than 80mph hit Reading late last night with the MET Office putting out an amber weather warning over the weekend.

The problems were compounded by a gas leak near Calcot Golf Club when a tree fell and ruptured a gas pipe at around 7.27am. Police and firefighters have cordoned off a 560m area and 40 homes have been evacuated while engineers worked until 11am to plug the leak.

Reading Bridge was closed in both directions because a fallen tree blocked the Vastern Road junction and trains were delayed or suspended because 33 trees were reported on the tracks.

Reading Buses pink 23 had a lucky escape when trees crashed down either side of it as it went to cross Reading Bridge.

Pink buses using Caversham Bridge as an alternative route were also affected by 50 minute delays caused by congestion.

The vitality 2 route was also badly affected with delays of up to 40-50 minutes. The rural route had problems in South Reading with a fallen tree on Burghfield Road causing delays and similarly, the north side of the route was affected by the Reading Bridge closure.

Marketing Manager Jake Osman said: “It was a similar picture throughout the network due to the problem of trees which were blown down as well as the closure for sewer works of Oxford Road, which is one of the major roads in the town.

“We can only apologise to customers who were affected by the delays which our buses fell victim to, but we are confident that the worst is now behind us and we thank our customers for their patience."

South West Trains had suspended all services until 10am while First Great Western report delays and lines between Reading and Basingstoke and Gatwick Airport are currently cancelled until the tracks are cleared.

Motorists had to find alternative ways around the borough with felled trees blocking key routes including Caversham Park Road, Henley Road, New Lane Hill in Tilehurst and Langley Hill between Bath Road and City Road, but Reading Bridge and London Road have now been cleared

The Loddon Bridge Park and Ride is closed for the day and Reading Buses are reporting delays to services which are being diverted around Little Heath Road, which is closed between Chapel Hill and Warborough Avenue, and Eastcourt Avenue and Culver Lane in Earley.

Firefighters received 53 calls overnight across Berkshire, mostly relating to fallen trees and property damage and are advising motorists to take extra care this morning because of storm debris.

More than 1,000 Scottish and Southern Energy engineers are trying to restore power to homes across the south and the company has drafted in extra call handlers after a series of blackouts caused by the heavy winds and fallen trees.

The storm has also delayed the planned closure of Sonning Bridge so engineers can install new traffic lights and carry out essential maintenance until tomorrow (Tuesday).

But tweets about the storm were mixed, with some warning people to take extra care while others wondering what all the fuss was about.

The Picnic Cafe, ‏@picnicfoods, tweeted: “Wind in #rdg is now at blow your brollie inside out level. Take care walking into work!”

But Anthony Green, ‏@anthonyedgreen, tweeted: “So much for the terrible storm, it’s lovely in Caversham, nicer than normal. Blue skies and autumnal colours. #Caversham #RDG”

Roads

Church Road, Pangbourne, partially closed between High Street junction and the Tidmarsh Lane junction

New Lane Hil, Tilehurst, partially blocked between The Meadway junction and the Hogarth Avenue junction

Henley Road partially blocked and Caversham Park Road blocked but passable

Little Heath Road closed between Chapel Hill and Warborough Avenue closed.

Trains

Trains between Reading and Basingstoke are cancelled

Trains between Reading and Gatwick Airport are cancelled

Buses

Loddon Bridge Park & Ride is closed

Royal blue 33 is operating via Chapel Hill, Warborough Avenue and Little Heath Road then normal route.

Services 19 and 19a are unable to use Eastcourt Avenue and Culver Lane due to a fallen trees and are being diverted via Church Road in Earley