What are the Tarr Steps, where are they, what is the legend surrounding them and have they been destroyed by Storm Angus?

ANCIENT steps which allow people to cross a river in a national park have been destroyed by Storm Angus.

The Tarr Steps, which date back to 1000BC and English fokelore says were built by the devil, have been washed away.

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What are the steps?

The Tarr Steps are what is known as a clapper bridge across the River Barle in the Exmoor National Park.

It is made up of stone slabs which weigh up to two tonnes each.

This type of bridge is known to have been commonly built hundreds of years ago, and the bridge has stood for centuries.

According to local legend, they were placed by the devil to win a bet, and he still retains sunbathing rights over the bridge.

The bridge is 180 feet longs and was designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.

Half of the bridge was washed away by the river in 2012 and was reassembled.

What happened during Storm Angus?

Storm Angus has wreaked havoc across Southern Britain and forecasters said more chaos is on the way with warnings of severe floods.

More than two inches of rain – two weeks’ worth – is due to fall in just a few hours today in areas already battered by the 106mph storm.

Floods warnings have been issued in the South West, Wales and the North East of England and commuters face a day of chaos caused by the severe weather.

Yesterday huge waves battered the coast and 2,000 homes were left without power as the first storm of the winter season swept across the country.

The middle section of the stone labs have completely vanished as the rising and fast flowing river ripped away slabs.

Exmoor National Park rangers confirmed the bridge had been severely damaged.

They tweeted to say walking routes which use the bridge are not possible due to the destruction.

Scott Broomfield, the Bar Manager at the nearby Tarr Steps Inn, told the : "The river came up over the stones and when the water went down, a part of it has been washed away.

"I wasn't expecting it to be gone this morning. I wasn't expecting it to be washed away.

"I remember when in 2012 when we had days and days and days of rain."

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