PASSENGERS trying to travel by train on Monday faced chaos as a tree was being cleared from the line near Haslemere, after the worst storm for a decade swept across the south in the early hours of the morning.

More than 300 trees were brought down across the south of England, and more than 30 were reported down across the South West Trains network.

Trains on the Portsmouth to Waterloo line north of Haslemere did not run before noon because of the tree, and a reduced train service operated on routes which were later declared safe to reopen. Near Alton, another tree fell across the railway line serving stations from Farnham to Aldershot.

Gusts widely between 60mph and 70mph, locally exceeding 70mph at times and even in excess of 80mph were recorded first thing on Monday.

For full story, see this week's Haslemere Herald.