BRITISH Airways planes have been diverted to Southend Airport as strong winds caused by storm Imogen hit Essex. 

A number of UK airports were affected by the storm but flights were still running as normal from Southend Airport despite winds of up to 53mph in Southend. 

Seven aircraft have reportedly been diverted to Southend from London City Airport because of the severe winds in docklands including three British Airways City Flyer Embraer jets and five City Jet Airlines flights. These included flights from Rotterdam, Florence, Nantes, Cork, Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The Echo understands three flights were also diverted on Sunday night.