A weather vane in Preston Pic: Jack Toner

Prestonians are being told severe gales are likely to last into Christmas Day as Storm Barbara arrives.

The Met Office has amended its weather warning for the storm to take in Friday (23 December) through until the end of Christmas Day.

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Gusts of between 50mph to 60mph are expected and forecasters are warning of travel disruption.

The chief forecaster states: “A deepening depression will move northeastwards across the Atlantic, passing northern Scotland during the Christmas period and bringing a broad swathe of gales and severe gales to much of northern Britain.

“There remains a fair degree of uncertainty in the exact track and intensity of the depression, which reduces confidence concerning the threat of particularly strong winds across the far north.”

Temperatures are expected to be mild during Christmas, with highs of 12 degrees on Christmas Day and lows of 5 degrees on Boxing Day.

Rain is expected on Friday and then overcast but windy conditions from Christmas Eve onwards.