BBC One goes off-air due to Storm Ciara

The broadcaster's flagship channel struggles amid destructive weather: 'Causing us some problems'

BBC One went off-air for more than seven minutes on Sunday morning due to interference by Storm Ciara.

The BBC's flagship channel, which at the time was broadcasting Nicky Campbell's The Big Questions, began to glitch at 11.02am before dropping off completely a minute later.

"This is BBC One, I'm sorry but due to technical problems we've lost contact with The Big Questions studio in Salford," an announcer said shortly afterwards.

Instead of moving images, the broadcast played smooth jazz music alongside a message which read: "We are sorry for the break in this programme and are trying to correct the fault."

She later added: "It seems that the stormy conditions up in Salford are causing us some problems. We are working as hard as we can against the weather to get back to Big Questions and Nicky in Salford as quickly as we can."

BBC goes off-air due to Storm Ciara (BBC)

At 11.08am, the announcer said the channel had solved the issue and thanked viewers for "bearing with us", resulting in a failed attempt to return the broadcast to TV screens.

"Unfortunately we're not able to go back to Big Questions in Salford, but please do bear with us one second, while we figure out what we're gonna do this morning," she then apologised.

BBC One tries and fails to return The Big Questions (BBC)

It was not until 11.10am that footage returned as normal.

The unusual interruption came amid travel chaos inflicted by Ciara, which is the worst storm to strike Britain in seven years.

Trains, flights and ferries have been cancelled and severe weather warnings issued as Ciara was forecast to pummel the UK with winds of up to 80mph.

At least 10 rail companies have issued “do not travel” warnings and nearly 20 others have told passengers to expect delays due to strong winds which could damage overhead electrical wires and produce debris on tracks.

Nearly 80 flood warnings are also in place across the UK as the Met Office warned of heavy rain on Sunday from the storm.