HIGH winds and heavy rain lashed the seafront as Storm Freya swept across the country.

The county saw stormy conditions with wind speeds of more than 50 mph.

This follows February’s record-breaking warm temperatures which saw the highest winter temperatures on record, according to the Met Office.

Colin Marsh was visiting Brighton from Portsmouth. The 56-year-old said: “I was born here. It’s the first time I have been back in 15 or so years and the weather stinks.

“My son brought an umbrella with him and we have spent a lot of our time chasing it down the road.”

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning over much of the country between 3pm on Sunday and 6am this morning. It warned people to watch out for falling branches as well as saying there could be some disruption to road, rail and air travel.

It also said that “injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto seafronts, coastal roads and properties”.

Sussex was not included in this weather warning, but still saw extreme weather conditions which affected businesses in the area.

Martin Irwin works at a food kiosk at Brighton Palace Pier and said the weather had put off some customers.

The 44-year-old said: “It has been very quiet. It’s such a weather oriented business, when the sun is out it’s packed but when the weather turns nasty it’s like a ghost town.”

Steve Moore, 52, visiting Brighton from Maidstone, added: “This is good old British weather.

“It was fantastic last week to have that warm spell, I have never seen weather like it in February, but now we are back to normal.”