Hurricane Irma howled past Puerto Rico with 185mph winds after reducing the tiny tropical islands of Barbuda and St Martin to rubble and claiming at least eight lives.

The category 5 storm - the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic - left a trail of deadly devastation through the Caribbean when it struck on Wednesday on a potential collision course with south Florida. 

Barbuda and St Martin suffered the storm's full fury with roughly 95 per cent of properties destroyed on both islands. Officials said at least six people died on the French part of St Martin - a pristine resort known for its vibrant nightlife.

'It's an enormous catastrophe. Ninety-five percent of the island is destroyed,' top local official Daniel Gibbs said. 'I'm in shock. It's frightening.'

The island, which is divided between the Netherlands and France, was left without drinking water or electricity, and the death toll is expected to rise.

Barbuda, part of the twin island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, also suffered 'absolute devastation' and is 'barely habitable' with more than 90 per cent of dwellings completely destroyed and one child killed. 

This morning, the United Nations said up to 49 million people are in the hurricane's path as aid agencies prepare for a 'major humanitarian response'.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the UK is 'taking swift action to respond' to the disaster after speaking to the chief minister of Anguilla, a British overseas territory that was among the first islands to be hit. A British naval ship has been deployed to help deal with the aftermath with 40 Royal Marines on board, as well as army engineers and equipment, as authorities struggle to bring aid to smaller islands. 'It is just a total devastation. Barbuda is literally rubble,' Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne told ABS TV Radio in Antigua.

He added that the island, which is home to 1,800 people, was left 'barely habitable'. 

'The entire housing stock was damaged... Some have lost whole roofs. Some properties have been totally demolished,' he said. 

'We have estimated the rebuilding efforts to be no less than $150 million. That is conservative, because we're talking about rebuilding everything, all of the institutions, the infrastructure, the telecommunications, the roads... Even the hotels on the island, those are totally demolished, as well. It is terrible. 

A six-year-old girl died from meningitis after nearly a two-hour wait to see a doctor who then dismissed her rash as 'just a bruise'.

Layla-Rose Ermenekli had what was later described as one of the 'worst cases of meningitis' doctors had ever seen.

She was rushed to A&E at the Royal Oldham Hospital by her mother Kirsty with a high temperature, headache and stomach ache. 

When she finally was seen, a rash – a tell-tale sign of the deadly infection that can kill in hours – was spotted on her hip, but the doctor did not make a written note nor speak to her mother about it.

Layla-Rose was diagnosed with a 'viral illness' and Kirsty, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was told her daughter was fit to go home.

Staff had a u-turn and she was kept in, but within 12 hours, her heart stopped beating and she passed away from meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia.

A damning internal report by the hospital has now revealed there were 'missed opportunities' to accurately diagnose her which lead to a fateful three-and-a-half-hour delay in treatment. Kirsty brought her daughter to the hospital at around 8.30pm on February 3. 

After a 25-minute wait to see a triage nurse, the youngster was assessed as needing to see a doctor within 10 minutes. But delays meant it was an hour and 50 minutes before that happened. 

After the first doctor was prepared to send her home, a sister nurse in charge felt uncomfortable and she was instead transferred to the paediatrics ward.

After another wait, Layla-Rose was assessed by a junior doctor, who picked up on the rash on her hip, but was told by the previous doctor it was just a bruise and not a new symptom.

But 30 minutes later, another locum doctor noted the rash, inserted a cannula, took bloods and administered antibiotics for sepsis.

The rash on Layla-Rose's body began to spread rapidly and she then went into cardiac arrest, before she was pronounced dead on the morning of February 4.

The internal report by carried out by the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust found doctors used an old document when assessing Layla-Rose. It also states the mother's concerns were not listened to, while there were two missed opportunities to recognise the rash.

The report said: 'The doctor who saw the patient initially did not recognise the rash, which was not documented at the time as being of a worrying nature, as a result the diagnosis of sepsis was missed for three-and-a-half hours, during which treatment opportunities were missed. 

Kirsty, who was pregnant at the time of the incident, has been forced to give up her job as a beautician following the tragedy.

The family have raised more than £10,000 for charity Meningitis Now and are campaigning for all children under the age of 16 to receive inoculation for meningococcal D.

A statement from Kirsty and Layla-Rose's father Ramazan Ermenekli said: 'Layla-Rose was a much loved, bright, beautiful daughter and sister. She had many friends and loved to dance.

'In addition to the fundraising and inoculation campaign the family hopes that the tragic events giving rise to Layla-Rose's death will bring about patient safety at Royal Oldham.'

Family friend Hannah Morrey has previously described Layla-Rose as having 'a cheeky, infectious laugh and beautiful smile'.

Richard Branson is preparing to retreat to his wine cellar as the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic heads towards his Necker Island complex. 

The billionaire Virgin boss has already announced he will not leave his home on the British Virgin Islands despite Hurricane Irma - which is the size of France - threatening 'potentially catastrophic' as it lashes the Caribbean with 185mph winds.

Speaking of his experience last night, Branson - who is staying with an entire team of staff on the island - said the 'howling wind and rain' battered his home and created an 'eerie but beautiful' atmosphere. 

He wrote on his blog today: 'We are expecting to get the full force of the hurricane in around five hours’ time, when we will retreat to a concrete wine cellar under the Great House. 'Knowing our wonderful team as I do, I suspect there will be little wine left in the cellar when we all emerge.'

He added: 'The strength of this hurricane is unheard of.

'Everyone is willing the eye of the storm to veer away from the BVI [British Virgin Islands] in these last few hours. As I wrote yesterday, our main concern is safety, for everyone here and for all the people in the BVI and in the path of the hurricane.  All of us slept together in two rooms. I haven't had a sleepover quite like it since I was a kid.' 

He said that, despite worries about the storm's severity, he considers it a 'privilege' to weather 'possibly the strongest storm ever' with a 'great group of young people'. 

He said: 'We were listening to the parrots in their boxes in the next room chattering away. Watching the tortoises congregating together, as if they sense what is coming our way.'  But Branson is not the only notable figure with something to lose in the storm - a host of celebrities could see their homes wrecked by Hurricane Irma as it smashes into the Caribbean.

Mass evacuations are set to take place in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean after the hurricane - the size of France - was declared the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean with 185mph winds.

This morning, the 'potentially catastrophic' hurricane slammed into Barbuda just hours after officials warned people to seek protection from Irma's 'onslaught' in a statement that closed with: 'May God protect us all.' Aid agencies, meanwhile, are bracing for a 'major humanitarian response'.  

Homes belonging to the likes of Johnny Depp, David Copperfield, Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger and even President Donald Trump could also be hit.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center reported that the storm is headed northwest toward the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with potential for storm surges of up to 20 feet above normal tide levels. 

A woman has been charged with fraudulently claiming funds intended for the survivors of the Grenfell blaze.

Joyce Msokeri, from Sutton in south London, allegedly claimed her husband died in the tower block fire and obtained more than £10,000 allocated for victims.

It is alleged she also falsely claimed to have a child in intensive care following the west London blaze in June. At least 80 people died and dozens of homes were destroyed in the tragedy.

Msokeri, 46, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with seven counts of fraud.

The charges allege she made false representations to Kensington and Chelsea council for money and accommodation at the Hilton hotel.

She is also accused of making false representations to charities in order to obtain clothing and food, to hospitals that she was the wife of a patient, to HMRC and a GP surgery in Kensington and Chelsea.

District judge Elizabeth Roscoe has sent the case to crown court.

Msokeri was arrested on 26 July and will next appear at Southwark Crown Court on 3 October.

Rapper Stormzy called Theresa May a liar last night by describing as being a 'paigon' after he was presented with the best solo artist prize at the GQ Men of the year awards. 

The 24-year-old was given the award by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and he was quick to mention the Prime Minister in his acceptance speech.  

At first, some fans believed the grime artist called her a 'pig' and a 'pagan' but others were quick to point out he said 'paigon' - slang for someone who lies and pretends to be a friend.

Mr Corbyn, 57, could be seen giggling on the stage behind him as the grime artist continued his speech at the Tate Modern in London. Stormzy said: 'It's so incredible to be here for everyone. Big up Jeremy Corbyn. 

'I do want to use this to say that Theresa May is a paigon and you know what we're doing right now. 

'Yeah, trust me. Yeah, it's awkward when I say that isn't it, yeah?'

He added: 'GQ man of the year award, solo artist of the year award. I'm so blessed to be here. I just want to thank god, thank my mum, thank my whole team.

'I can't even believe it. Your boy is on the cover of GC, south London boy, this is incredible. Thank you so much, man. Love.'  

The government honouring the result of the referendum by bringing in tough measures to curb immigration, a Cabinet minister said today.

Sir Michael Fallon said ending free movement was necessary to reduce inflows after a leaked document outlined a new post-Brexit system.

The proposals included action to slash the number of low-skilled EU workers and force bosses to put British workers first.

A ‘direct numerical cap’ on immigration could be imposed when the UK leaves the 28-nation EU in March 2019, according to the Home Office report.

Asked about the document, Defence Secretary Sir Michael stressed that the government would spell out its plans later this year.

But he made clear ministers' determination to meet the Tory target for reducing annual net migration below 100,000 a year.

'This is our target,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today. 'We need to get immigration down and we need to show the public that it is being properly controlled.' 

Under the blueprint, low-skilled workers would be allowed to stay for only one or two years while professionals could apply for five-year visas. To give preference to British workers, firms would have to pass a rigorous ‘economic needs test’ before recruiting EU nationals lacking higher qualifications.

The 82-page document says migration policy will be determined by the UK national interest, ensuring social cohesion and reducing the number of arrivals.

The paper said: ‘To be considered valuable to the country as a whole, immigration should benefit not just the migrants themselves but make existing residents better off.’

The radical proposals include:

• An immediate end to free movement after Brexit;
• Jobseekers will not be given residence permits;
• The rights of EU nationals to bring in family members will be dramatically curtailed;
• Transitional controls will last around two years before a new system is imposed;
• EU citizens will need passports to enter the UK, not just identity cards.

Richard Branson is refusing to leave his 74-acre Necker Island complex in the British Virgin Islands despite the 'extremely dangerous' Hurricane Irma crashing into the Caribbean.

Mass evacuations are to take place in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean after a hurricane the size of France became the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean with 185mph winds.

This morning, the eye of the 'potentially catastrophic' hurricane hit Barbuda just hours after officials warned people to seek protection from Irma's 'onslaught' in a statement that closed with: 'May God protect us all.' 

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center reported that the storm, which is soon expected to make landfall along the string of French islands that includes Guadeloupe before heading to Haiti and Florida, has become the maximum Category 5.

'Preparations should be rushed to completion in the hurricane warning area,' the NHC said in its 1200 GMT bulletin. 

But Branson, writing on his blog yesterday, said he is not going to leave his island to dodge the storm.  The monster hurricane, the most powerful on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale, is about 270 miles east of the island of Antigua and is packing maximum sustained winds of 175 miles per hour. 

The storm was moving towards the west at 14 miles per hour, and is expected to drop between four and eight inches of rain when it hits land.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's $50million pad on St Barts is also in the hurricane's path.  

British Airways has already cancelled a flight from Gatwick to Antigua in light of the warnings. These rainfall amounts may cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides,' the NHC warned.

The storm is also is expected to 'cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.'

Branson fully acknowledged the danger of Hurricane Irma, stressing that the 'devastation' they can cause 'cannot be overstated', but said he will stay on his island regardless. 

He said: 'On Necker Island we have constructed really strong buildings (with hurricane blinds) that should be able to handle extreme weather pretty well, though with a Category 5 hurricane almost nothing can withstand it.