A clear-up operation is under way after a huge Atlantic storm ripped through parts of Western Europe at the weekend.

The French coast was worst affected and France has declared a natural disaster in the area after hurricane force winds tore down buildings and trees.

More than 50 people have died in the bad weather and around a million more were left without electricity.

The wild weather also smashed into Portugal, Spain, Belgium and Germany as the storms moved to the north east.

In France, the torrential rain and heavy winds brought down trees, destroyed power lines and flooded large areas.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has promised to release enough money to help people rebuild their homes and lives.

"The priority now is to make all the homeless people safe, all the people who are still threatened by the rising waters," he said.

Around 10,000 emergency workers are still searching for, and helping, survivors of the storms.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has visited two of the worst affected areas - the Vendee and Charente-Maritime regions on the west coast - and praised the efforts of the emergency services.

For more information about it see  this page from CBBC Newsround

I do hope none of you or your families has been hurt by this storm and I share the sadness of those who have been affected. NS