Parts of the Caribbean braced for arrival of Tropical Storm Bret

GeoColor satellite image taken on Tuesday of Tropical Storm Bret heading towards the eastern Caribbean. (NOAA/AP)

Parts of the Caribbean were bracing themselves for the arrival of Tropical Storm Bret as it made its way across the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday.

The storm, which has reached maximum sustained winds of 45mph according to the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, is expected to hit eastern Caribbean islands at near hurricane strength on Thursday.