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Seven dead as UK struck by storms Seven dead as UK struck by storms
(about 1 hour later)
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.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.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.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.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 LondonRichard Heard, Birmingham Airport chief, in ShropshireA car passenger in Streatley, BerkshireA lorry driver in Skipton, North YorkshireA man in his car in ChesterA woman in her 60s in Stockport, Greater ManchesterA man in the Strangeways area of Manchester In pictures: Windy weather In pictures: Europe's stormsSTORM DEATHS A two-year-old boy in Kentish Town, north LondonRichard Heard, Birmingham Airport chief, in ShropshireA car passenger in Streatley, BerkshireA lorry driver in Skipton, North YorkshireA man in his car in ChesterA woman in her 60s in Stockport, Greater ManchesterA man in the Strangeways area of Manchester In pictures: Windy weather In pictures: Europe's storms
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. The managing director of Birmingham Airport, Richard Heard, 49, died after a branch fell on his car between Bridgnorth and Broseley, Shropshire, and 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 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. A man was killed when a lorry was blown onto a 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.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 Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY We can see parked cars moving in the wind and lamp posts swaying Myra Davis, Swansea Send us your comments
A man also died after being blown into a metal shutter at an industrial estate in the Strangeways area of Manchester.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. While England experienced high winds, Scotland saw its first major snowfalls of 2007, bringing road and rail disruption.
The weather has been causing problems across the country, including: Thousands of homes across the UK were left without power when the storms were at their peak.
  • Some 100,000 people have been affected by power cuts in the Godalming area of Surrey.
    		•  Earlier in the day, some 100,000 people were affected by power cuts in Godalming, Surrey, while tens of thousands were left without electricity across the north east of England, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.
  • More than 30,000 electricity customers across the north east of England, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire were without power
    		•  People in parts of Lancashire and the south Lake District also lost power, as did thousands in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire and Wales.
  • More than 60,000 homes in Lancashire and the south Lake District were without power after lines were damages
    		•  Other weather-related problems across the country include:
  • 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
  • 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
    		•
  • In Kent, Dover port closed for a period
  • 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 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
    		•  The danger of falling trees as a result of high winds posed a hazard
  • Twenty-six mariners have been rescued from a damaged British container ship in the English Channel 50 miles (80km) off the Lizard in Cornwall
    		•
  • Twenty-six mariners were 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 cancelled. More than 80 flights at Manchester were cancelled. Flights from Liverpool John Lennon Airport were suspended for a time.
  • 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 Dartford crossing were closed because of high winds.
    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.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.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. London Bridge station closed for 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.
    Scotland has seen its first major snowfalls of the yearScotland has seen its first major snowfalls of the year
    Virgin Trains cancelled all services on its West Coast route between London and Scotland, and First Great Western was forced to run a shuttle service between Paddington and Reading.
    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.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.