HIGH winds are set to hit the South East this weekend.

Gales of 45mph are expected to batter Brighton tomorrow, the Met Office has said.

Strong winds sweeping through Sussex early last month caused chaos, with trees being felled and scaffolding torn down.

Thousands of tonnes of pebbles were thrown on to Brighton and Hove promenade by raging tides and the Palace Pier had to be closed as staff reported it “was shaking and water was forcing its way through the boards”. The Met Office said temperatures would drop to 4C tomorrow night and to freezing in the early hours of Tuesday.