The UK Government is working hard to meet requests for assistance from the devolved Stormont Executive for support in the wake of Storm Eowyn, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has said.

Record high winds from Storm Eowyn battered Ireland and Northern Ireland on Friday, leaving one man dead and almost one-third of Irish homes and businesses without power and forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

The storm brought 100 mile-per-hour winds to the island and also battered Scotland and northern England. Britain’s weather office issued a red warning, its highest level of alert.