Storm Boelo, the second named storm of the autumn, brought high winds and heavy rain to northern areas of the UK, ripping up trees and tearing down power lines.

In coastal Largs, Thorne Travel said a "devastating" storm surge flooded the shop and caused "significant damage" along the seafront on Sunday (25 October).

"As many of you will have seen across social media, Largs was hit by severe weather last night, with a devastating storm surge causing significant damage along the seafront," said Thorne Travel Owner Shona Thorne in a post to Facebook.

The post was accompanied by a video showing the extent of the damage, with the agency's carpeted floor sodden, with the damage stretching right through the building to back office areas.

"Sadly, our lovely Thorne Travel Largs store has suffered extensive damage, and as you will see from the video, the aftermath is heartbreaking," Thorne continued.

"Unfortunately, the damage means it is simply not safe for us to open our doors at the moment, and we now face a major clean-up operation before we can welcome our wonderful customers back."

Thorne said she wanted to say a "heartfelt" thank you to everyone who has messaged and checked in on the team, and offered to help. "You genuinely have no idea how much your kindness and support mean to us," said Thorne.

"As a small, independent family business, our shops mean so much more to us than just bricks and mortar, and seeing the damage is incredibly upsetting.

"But one thing we are especially grateful for is that everyone is safe and nobody has been hurt. At the end of the day, that is what matters most."

Thorne Travel's other two shops – in Kilwinning and Prestwick – are open as normal, with the teams there on hand to help with holiday plans and enquiries.

Thorne said the agency would keep clients updated on the progress at Largs and let them know when the store is likely to reopen.

She added: "From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Your kindness, messages and offers of support have meant the world to us during what has been a very difficult 24 hours.

"We are incredibly proud to be part of such a caring community, and we know that with a little time, a lot of hard work and the wonderful support around us, we will get our lovely Largs shop back on its feet."

Thorne Travel is a several-time TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies standout performer; it made the Top 50 again earlier this year as one of Scotland's three top agencies after being crowd top agency in Scotland last year.

In 2018, it was named the UK and Ireland's No.1 Travel Agency at Top 50.