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Four dead as UK struck by storms Four dead as UK struck by storms
(40 minutes later)
Four people have died and travel has been severely disrupted as gales and heavy downpours hit parts of the UK.Four people have died and travel has been severely disrupted as gales and heavy downpours hit parts of the UK.
The Met Office has warned of gusts of up to 70mph and Scotland has seen its first snowfalls of 2007. The Met Office has reported gusts of up to 70mph and Scotland has seen its first snowfalls of 2007.
Network Rail has brought in speed restrictions on some lines and some motorways have been hit by closures. Speed restrictions have been brought in by Network Rail and motorway sections on the M1 and M18 have been closed.
The MD of Birmingham Airport, Richard Heard, died after a branch fell on his car in Shropshire and a second man was killed by a falling tree in Berkshire. High winds lead to the drivers' deaths in Berkshire, Shropshire and North Yorkshire, and a woman was killed by a toppled wall in Greater Manchester.
The accident which killed Mr Heard, 49, happened on the B4373 Bridgnorth to Broseley road. The managing director of Birmingham Airport, Richard Heard, 49, died after a branch fell on his car on the B4373 Bridgnorth to Broseley road.
HAVE YOUR SAY We can visibly see parked cars moving in the wind and lamp posts swaying Myra Davis, Swansea Send us your comments HAVE YOUR SAY We can see parked cars moving in the wind and lamp posts swaying Myra Davis, Swansea Send us your comments
A second car heading in the opposite direction also collided with part of the branch but its driver was uninjured, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.
A male passenger in a Ford Fiesta was killed when a tree fell on the car in Streatley, Berkshire.A male passenger in a Ford Fiesta was killed when a tree fell on the car in Streatley, Berkshire.
Meanwhile, a lorry driver died when his vehicle left the road and overturned in high winds on the A629 Skipton western bypass in North Yorkshire. 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.
And in Stockport, Greater Manchester, a woman was crushed to death when a wall toppled onto her in high winds, police said. In Stockport, Greater Manchester, a woman in her 60s was crushed to death when a wall toppled onto her in high winds.
A British container ship sank in the English Channel 40 to 50 miles (65 to 80km) off the Cornwall coast. All 26 crew of the MSC Napoli had abandoned ship to a lifeboat.
A man was taken to hospital after Bar Vin's roof collapsed
Blown over lorries closed the M1 between junctions 29 and 30 in South Yorkshire.
The M18 has been closed between junctions 4 and 7 northbound and junctions 6 and 7 southbound.
In the south of England, ferry services to the Isle of Wight have been cancelled and Southampton Container Terminal is closed.
A man was taken to hospital after he was injured when the roof of Bar Vin in Bournemouth, Dorset, collapsed as winds of up to 80mph hit the coast.
Train operators One and GNER are operating a revised and reduced timetable on the East Coast Mainline.
And the Shrewsbury to Chester rail line has been closed after a train collided with a tree just outside Chirk Station, just over the Welsh border.
A tree came down on Embankment in central London
Two men were taken to hospital overnight suffering from hypothermia after becoming disorientated while walking in heavy rain and fog in the Staffordshire Moorlands on Wednesday.
The weather has been causing problems elsewhere in the country, including:The weather has been causing problems elsewhere in the country, including:
  • Some 25,000 people have been left without power in an area from Oxford to Poole and Chichester
  • Some 25,000 people have been left without power in an area from Oxford to Poole and Chichester
  • Power cables have been brought down across the road in Bugle near St Austell in Cornwall
    		•
  • Lord's Cricket Ground in London was left strewn with debris after winds damaged its roof
  • In Kent, police warned of possible power cuts and the port of Dover, the M25 Dartford river crossing and the Sheppey Crossing were all shut
  • In Kent, police warned of possible power cuts and the port of Dover, the M25 Dartford river crossing and the Sheppey Crossing were all shut
  • There was also 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
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  • 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
  • Snow fell on the M62 in Yorkshire where it crosses the Pennines
  • Strong winds have brought down part of a roof onto a busy shopping street in Hereford city centre
  • Strong winds have brought down part of a roof onto a busy shopping street in Hereford city centre
  • A British container ship sank in the English Channel 40 to 50 miles (65 to 80km) off the Cornwall coast. All 26 crew of the MSC Napoli had abandoned ship to a lifeboat.
    • A tree came down on Embankment in central London
    On the roads, blown over lorries closed the M1 between junctions 29 and 30 in South Yorkshire.
    Elsewhere, the M18 has been closed between junctions 4 and 7 northbound and junctions 6 and 7 southbound.
    Train operators One and GNER are operating a revised and reduced timetable on the East Coast Mainline.
    Cold snapCold snap
    Forecasters said England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will see wind speeds will pick up throughout the day, reaching 60 to 70mph in some parts and 80mph on high ground. 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.
    Scotland has seen its first major snowfalls of the yearScotland has seen its first major snowfalls of the year
    South and west facing coastlines are expected to bear the brunt of the storms. 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.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.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.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.Despite an unusually mild start to January, forecasters have warned that temperatures are likely to plummet beyond the weekend.