GMB viewers concerned as host is almost blown over during live coverage of Hurricane Laura

This is the moment a Good Morning Britain reporter in the US was almost blown off his feet during coverage of Hurricane Laura.

NBC News correspondent Jay Gray was speaking to hosts Ranvir Singh and Sean Fletcher from Lake Charles, Louisiana, near where the category 4 hurricane made landfall for the first time on Thursday morning.

Hurricane Laura has been branded "unsurvivable" by officials and could be one of the most extreme storms to hit the US in years. About 500,000 people have already been evacuated from Louisiana and Texas, with winds reaching 150mph in some places.

Mr Gray kept struggling against the strong winds until he was nearly swept over. The hosts quickly cut the interview short, urging Mr Gray to get inside.

Before he was swept over by the hurricane, he told viewers: ""A bit of a lull but here it comes again you can feel to picking up, and that's only going to continue to turn and get much more intense."

The wind then picked up again and blew him forwards, almost completely knocking him off his feet.

Mr Fletcher said: "I think for your safety Jay we are going to have to leave you, you're talking about that being a lull, I can't imagine what it's going to be like when it really picks up."

"The conditions look dangerous already for Jay."

Many viewers thought it was unfair even to ask Mr Gray to brave the hurricane conditions on live television.

Referencing evacuation orders, one person said: "Get out of the area as advised. Your life is way too important. We don't need to see you struggling to stand up hanging on to your cap. Take yourself and colleagues to safety!"

Another viewer added: "It’s ridiculous that he’s stood there! Get him and his team out of there!"

A third said: "He needs to stop now, he needs to get to safety, it’s gonna get worse and his life is more important than a news report."

Good Morning Britain producers later told viewers on social media that safety measures had been put in place for Mr Gray.

They said on Twitter: "We would like to add [Jay Gray] is an experienced hurricane reporter with lots of safety measures in place. He is safe and well."