Strong winds up to 90mph pounded the coast at Dover on Saturday when bad weather disrupted cross channel shipping.

The port was closed for about five hours, finally reopening in late afternoon, and passengers who were expecting to travel had a long wait.

At one point there were six ferries sheltering outside the harbour waiting for the storm to subside.

At Dover Coastguard Station above Langdon Bay the highest gust of wind was measured at 90mph.

Coastguard officer Nicola Goodban said: "It was pretty hairy out there. We are quite exposed on the clifftop and the weather was quite exceptional.

"We can count on one hand the amount of days we have had up here that have been that bad.

"The ships got a real hammering for about five hours, with six stacked up outside the harbour.

"It must have been fairly unpleasant on board, with the wind followed by the torrential rain."

Coastguard officers on duty on Saturday afternoon at the peak of the storm were amazed to see walkers struggling along the clifftop paths.

Miss Goodban added: "We saw a family with a baby at one point. Bad weather may be fun to watch and exciting, but it can be so dangerous.

"People do not realise. We suggest walkers keep off the cliffs in high winds."