Seven dead as UK struck by storms

[boro_boy]

Seven people have died, travel has been severely disrupted and thousands of homes have been left without power as gales and heavy downpours hit the UK.
A two-year-old boy died when a wall fell on him in Kentish Town, London.

Four other people died in road-related accidents in North Yorkshire, Berkshire, Shropshire and Cheshire, and two were killed in Greater Manchester.

Gusts of up to 70mph have seen flights cancelled, rail speed restrictions enforced and sections of motorway shut.


STORM DEATHS
A two-year-old boy in Kentish Town, north London
Richard Heard, Birmingham Airport chief, in Shropshire
A car passenger in Streatley, Berkshire
A lorry driver in Skipton, North Yorkshire
A man in his car in Chester
A woman in her 60s in Stockport, Greater Manchester
A man in the Strangeways area of Manchester


The managing director of Birmingham Airport, Richard Heard, 49, died after a branch fell on his car between Bridgnorth and Broseley, Shropshire. A male passenger in a Ford Fiesta was killed when a tree fell on the car in Streatley, Berkshire.

And a lorry driver died when his vehicle left the road and overturned in high winds on the A629 Skipton western bypass, in North Yorkshire.

A man was killed when a lorry was blown onto his car on the A55 on the outskirts of Chester, Cheshire.

In Stockport, Greater Manchester, a woman in her 60s was crushed to death when a wall toppled onto her in high winds.


HAVE YOUR SAY
We can see parked cars moving in the wind and lamp posts swaying
Myra Davis, Swansea


A man also died after being blown into a metal shutter at an industrial estate in the Strangeways area of Manchester.

While England experienced high winds, Scotland has seen its first major snowfalls of 2007.

The weather has been causing problems across the country, including:


Some 100,000 people have been affected by power cuts in the Godalming area of Surrey.

More than 30,000 electricity customers across the north east of England, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire were without power

More than 60,000 homes in Lancashire and the south Lake District were without power after lines were damages

More than 25,000 homes lost electricity in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire

Scottish Power said around 30,000 homes were without electricity in Cheshire and mid and north Wales due to the adverse weather

Thousands of homes have been left without power in an area from Oxford to Poole and Chichester, the North East and across Central's Midlands' network

Lord's Cricket Ground in London was left strewn with debris after winds damaged its roof

In Kent, Dover port has reopened, and the M25 Dartford river crossing and the Sheppey Crossing were shut

There was snow and ice in County Durham, where part of the A68 at Tow Law was closed for a short time after lorries and cars skidded into ditches

Strong winds have brought down part of a roof onto a busy shopping street in Hereford city centre

Twenty-six mariners have been rescued from a damaged British container ship in the English Channel 50 miles (80km) off the Lizard in Cornwall

There were 192 flights cancelled at Heathrow, 39 cancellations across Scotland, five at Southampton and two at Stansted. Cardiff also saw flights scrapped. More than 80 flights at Manchester were cancelled. Flights from Liverpool John Lennon Airport were suspended for a time.
On the roads, the Highways Agency said both the M48 Severn Bridge and the A282 Dartford crossing were closed due to high winds.

The M25 junctions 29 to 30 were closed in both directions as were the M1 junctions 30 to 31, M11 junctions 6 to 10 and M18 junctions 4 to 7.

Network Rail said 50mph speed restrictions were in place across the whole of England and Wales.

London Bridge station closed for the rest of the day after glass panels fell onto the concourse.

Virgin Trains cancelled all services on the West Coast route, and First Great Western was forced to run a shuttle service between Paddington and Reading.

Cold snap

Forecasters said wind speeds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, would pick up throughout the day, reaching 60 to 70mph in some parts and 80mph on high ground.


South and west facing coastlines were expected to bear the brunt of the storms.

Central Scotland Police said several cars became stuck in snow on the A809 near Killearn, while Strathclyde has seen snow on the M74 south of Hamilton, Lanarkshire.

The Highways Agency has advised all motorists to take extra care and to plan their routes in advance.

Friday is expected to be calmer but the country could be facing a cold snap next week.

Despite an unusually mild start to January, forecasters have warned that temperatures are likely to plummet beyond the weekend.

Been very bad today with the wind, extreamly strong. I was woke up at 4am because of the wind and it was very strong for about 12 hours. Its eased off now thank god!! Its weird having low pressure so low this time of year.

Its now going to get really cold from Sunday onwards. Snow for the east coast and Scotland.

[kiko]

My uni was closed due to the weather. The wind scares the shit out of me.

[superally]

I had new windows fitted today,mrs superally been very cold.

[boro_boy]

Originally Posted by kiko

My uni was closed due to the weather. The wind scares the shit out of me.

I quite like it tbh its fun, but not when it kills people. I'm just looking forward to the snow now.

[kiko]

I must look absolutely mental when people look at me because I crack up laughing that the wind is bullying me down the street.

Insane.

[Middlesbrough No1 Fan]

Originally Posted by boro_boy

I quite like it tbh its fun, but not when it kills people. I'm just looking forward to the snow now.

I hope it doesnt snow..just causes trouble getting to and from work..

[boro_boy]

Originally Posted by The Realist

I hope it doesnt snow..just causes trouble getting to and from work..

I think snow is great. All the messing about in the car. Until the gritters come out and spoil the fun lol .

[westboy]

had no electricity from 1145-1930. Too dangerous to go outside, no electricity inside. Just watched DVD's till laptop run out, had dinner by candlelight and just sit and chat. Bit different but wouldn't want it regularly

[Nafe]

It was terrible yesterday, I had a driving lesson at 13:30 that day and I was constantly driving around bins, branches and trees. Got a bit intimidated when I was waiting at the lights and the car started rocking side to side!