Gale-force winds are causing disruption across parts of north-west Europe as countries were hit by a storm that was expected to bring flooding to coastal areas.

Weather forecasters have predicted winds gusting up to 87mph on Germany’s North Sea coast.

Ferry operators cancelled services to some of Germany’s North Sea islands and the country’s national railway, Deutsche Bahn, warned of likely disruption across a swathe of northern Germany.

Train services in Denmark and the Netherlands have been suspended.

By early afternoon German authorities reported flooding on the tiny low-lying North Sea islands of Langeness and Hooge near Denmark. Residents protected their homes with sandbags and other barriers against the rising waters, but none of the houses - all built on raised foundations - were thought to be in immediate danger.

Still, Langeness mayor Heike Hinrichsen warned that if the seas rose as high as predicted as the storm moves in, the “waves of the North Sea will be lapping at the houses”.

“Nobody on the islands will be closing their eyes tonight,” said Langeness resident Fiede Nissen. “It’s already tense.”

In Belgium, the coastal town of Bredene evacuated hundreds of people from one neighbourhood well before the worst of the storm hits.

“There is no reason for panic yet, but Bredene is anticipating serious flooding problems. The situation can be much more serious than we could have expected this morning,” the city said in a statement.