Get set for Hurricane Steve, Wendy... and even Nigel: Public suggests most British names ever for UK storms

It is hoped that naming storms will help raise awareness of severe weather and ensure greater safety of the public

A storm will be named when it is deemed to have the potential to cause a substantial impact in the UK and/or Ireland (Getty Images)

Watch out for storms Abigail, Henry and Wendy - among many others - after the public suggested names for those likely to affect the UK and Ireland.

Last month the Met Office and Met Eireann announced a pilot project to name storms that may be blowing this way this autumn and winter.

They received thousands of responses by email, through the Met Office Facebook pages and metoffice on Twitter.

The winning names were: Abigail, Barney, Clodagh, Desmond, Eva, Frank, Gertrude, Henry, Imogen, Jake, Katie, Lawrence, Mary, Nigel, Orla, Phil, Rhonda, Steve, Tegan, Vernon and Wendy.

It is hoped that naming storms will help raise awareness of severe weather and ensure greater safety of the public.

A storm will be named when it is deemed to have the potential to cause a substantial impact in the UK and/or Ireland.

If a storm is the remnants of a tropical storm or hurricane that has moved across the Atlantic, the already established method of referring to it as, for example “Ex-hurricane X”, will continue.

PA