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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Britain battered by summer gales | Britain battered by summer gales |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Rare summer gales have battered parts of the UK, with storm force winds at sea and gusts reaching more than 60mph on land. | Rare summer gales have battered parts of the UK, with storm force winds at sea and gusts reaching more than 60mph on land. |
| The worst affected were north Wales, northern England and the Midlands. | The worst affected were north Wales, northern England and the Midlands. |
| Blackpool Airport recorded a gust of 63mph at lunchtime, while major cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds have seen winds of around 50mph. | Blackpool Airport recorded a gust of 63mph at lunchtime, while major cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds have seen winds of around 50mph. |
| BBC forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker said the winds were "strong enough to bring down branches and even whole trees". | BBC forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker said the winds were "strong enough to bring down branches and even whole trees". |
| "So far the strongest winds - storm force 10 - have been on Irish Sea coasts," he said. | "So far the strongest winds - storm force 10 - have been on Irish Sea coasts," he said. |
| "However, damage to trees was reported as early as this morning in parts of Shropshire and Derby." | "However, damage to trees was reported as early as this morning in parts of Shropshire and Derby." |
| He added: "It's fairly rare to have a full blown gale like this in the summer months and much of the country has had a very windy day today." | He added: "It's fairly rare to have a full blown gale like this in the summer months and much of the country has had a very windy day today." |
| Escaped the worst | Escaped the worst |
| The storms have also reached East Anglia and Northern Ireland with localised gusts of between 40mph and 50mph. | The storms have also reached East Anglia and Northern Ireland with localised gusts of between 40mph and 50mph. |
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| One family had a lucky escape when a tree fell through the roof | |
| Thousands of homes in the Midlands were left temporarily without power, a Central Networks spokesman said, mostly due to trees falling on power lines. | Thousands of homes in the Midlands were left temporarily without power, a Central Networks spokesman said, mostly due to trees falling on power lines. |
| In Shrewsbury, 700 homes were cut off for two hours while 2,800 properties in Madeley, Telford, Shropshire, had no electricity for nearly one hour. | In Shrewsbury, 700 homes were cut off for two hours while 2,800 properties in Madeley, Telford, Shropshire, had no electricity for nearly one hour. |
| Additionally, 1,500 houses had no power for two hours in Armitage near Lichfield, Staffordshire. | Additionally, 1,500 houses had no power for two hours in Armitage near Lichfield, Staffordshire. |
| Householders at one Wolverhampton address escaped unhurt when a 30ft tree crashed through their roof. | Householders at one Wolverhampton address escaped unhurt when a 30ft tree crashed through their roof. |
| Southern Scotland had been braced for bad weather but escaped the worst of the storms. | Southern Scotland had been braced for bad weather but escaped the worst of the storms. |
| However, strong winds battered the north of Scotland, with gusts in Stornoway reaching 54mph. | However, strong winds battered the north of Scotland, with gusts in Stornoway reaching 54mph. |
| The Britannia Bridge between mainland Wales and Anglesey was closed to caravans and high sided vehicles because of high winds. Irish Sea ferry services between Fishguard and Rosslare were also hit. | The Britannia Bridge between mainland Wales and Anglesey was closed to caravans and high sided vehicles because of high winds. Irish Sea ferry services between Fishguard and Rosslare were also hit. |
| One person was hurt when a marquee collapsed in Caerwys, Flintshire, and rail services were affected after a train hit a tree near Wrexham. | One person was hurt when a marquee collapsed in Caerwys, Flintshire, and rail services were affected after a train hit a tree near Wrexham. |
| A leg of the powerboat Round Britain Race was also postponed. | A leg of the powerboat Round Britain Race was also postponed. |
| Are you in an area that is badly hit by the gales? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in an area that is badly hit by the gales? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| You can send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | You can send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |