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| Ferry aground as storms batter UK | Ferry aground as storms batter UK |
| (4 days later) | |
| A ferry which ran aground at Blackpool has become a casualty of winter storms that have lashed parts of the UK. | A ferry which ran aground at Blackpool has become a casualty of winter storms that have lashed parts of the UK. |
| Fourteen passengers had to be airlifted from the Riverdance freight ferry, nine remaining crew members were rescued after a second Mayday was declared. | Fourteen passengers had to be airlifted from the Riverdance freight ferry, nine remaining crew members were rescued after a second Mayday was declared. |
| The ferry was carrying lorries from Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland to the port of Heysham in Lancashire. | The ferry was carrying lorries from Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland to the port of Heysham in Lancashire. |
| High winds are battering much of the UK, with forecasters warning of blizzards to come. | High winds are battering much of the UK, with forecasters warning of blizzards to come. |
| The roll-on-roll-off ferry, run by Seatruck Ferries Limited, was listing to 60 degrees amid fierce storms and ran into trouble 10 miles west of Fleetwood in Lancashire. | The roll-on-roll-off ferry, run by Seatruck Ferries Limited, was listing to 60 degrees amid fierce storms and ran into trouble 10 miles west of Fleetwood in Lancashire. |
| Mark Clark from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it is now aground on the north shore of Blackpool beach. He said staff would have to wait for first light to assess whether the vessel had spilled oil or other pollutants. | Mark Clark from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it is now aground on the north shore of Blackpool beach. He said staff would have to wait for first light to assess whether the vessel had spilled oil or other pollutants. |
| Rescue teams will wait for high tide before trying to refloat the vessel. | Rescue teams will wait for high tide before trying to refloat the vessel. |
| The ferry was on its way from Northern Ireland to England | The ferry was on its way from Northern Ireland to England |
| Sea King helicopters are taking the passengers on board to Blackpool Airport. | Sea King helicopters are taking the passengers on board to Blackpool Airport. |
| On Thursday a 45-year-old lorry driver died on the M6 near Tebay, Cumbria, as his lorry overturned in 70 mph gusts. | On Thursday a 45-year-old lorry driver died on the M6 near Tebay, Cumbria, as his lorry overturned in 70 mph gusts. |
| In Wales some homes are without power and the Forth Road Bridge, west of Edinburgh, has reopened after a crash. | In Wales some homes are without power and the Forth Road Bridge, west of Edinburgh, has reopened after a crash. |
| However, it remains closed to high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorcycles after a lorry earlier overturned in high winds. | However, it remains closed to high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorcycles after a lorry earlier overturned in high winds. |
| The Port of Dover in Kent has reopened after gusts of up to 60mph forced it to close, causing widespread disruption. | The Port of Dover in Kent has reopened after gusts of up to 60mph forced it to close, causing widespread disruption. |
| About 1,000 homes were without power in Gwynedd and two schools, John Beddoes High in Presteigne and Whitton Primary schools in Powys, closed because of a power failure. | About 1,000 homes were without power in Gwynedd and two schools, John Beddoes High in Presteigne and Whitton Primary schools in Powys, closed because of a power failure. |
| In Moseley, Birmingham, a baby girl had to be taken to hospital after a strong gust knocked her and the pushchair she was in into a lake. | In Moseley, Birmingham, a baby girl had to be taken to hospital after a strong gust knocked her and the pushchair she was in into a lake. |
| West Midlands Ambulance Service said her mother jumped to her rescue after high winds carried the child into the water as the pair were feeding ducks. | West Midlands Ambulance Service said her mother jumped to her rescue after high winds carried the child into the water as the pair were feeding ducks. |
| The air will be a lot colder, with sleet and snow showers working their way across the whole of the UK by tomorrow morning Met Office In Pictures: Storms hit Britain | The air will be a lot colder, with sleet and snow showers working their way across the whole of the UK by tomorrow morning Met Office In Pictures: Storms hit Britain |
| There are widespread travel delays, including at the Port of Dover where disruption to sailings remains. | There are widespread travel delays, including at the Port of Dover where disruption to sailings remains. |
| Passengers are being advised to check with their operator before travelling. | Passengers are being advised to check with their operator before travelling. |
| Kent Police implemented Operation Stack - closing a section of the M20 because of the port closure - and this remains in place. | Kent Police implemented Operation Stack - closing a section of the M20 because of the port closure - and this remains in place. |
| Arctic weather | Arctic weather |
| The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for parts of the UK. | The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for parts of the UK. |
| Spokeswoman Helen Chivers said the cold weather was coming "straight from the Arctic" and everywhere across the UK would have a chance of seeing snow over the coming days. | Spokeswoman Helen Chivers said the cold weather was coming "straight from the Arctic" and everywhere across the UK would have a chance of seeing snow over the coming days. |
| "The air will be a lot colder, with sleet and snow showers working their way across the whole of the UK by Friday morning." | "The air will be a lot colder, with sleet and snow showers working their way across the whole of the UK by Friday morning." |
| Northern areas could see snowfall between 10cm (4in) and 20cm (8in), while southern England is likely to see 2cm (1in) to 5cm (2in) of snow. | Northern areas could see snowfall between 10cm (4in) and 20cm (8in), while southern England is likely to see 2cm (1in) to 5cm (2in) of snow. |
| Blizzards and snow drifts, due to the high winds, were likely in northern parts, she added. | Blizzards and snow drifts, due to the high winds, were likely in northern parts, she added. |
| A man died when his lorry was blown over on the M6 Scenes on the M6 | A man died when his lorry was blown over on the M6 Scenes on the M6 |
| Elsewhere, a 50-mile stretch of the M6 motorway was closed to all traffic as winds gusted up to 70mph causing several accidents, including the fatal one near Tebay early on Thursday. | Elsewhere, a 50-mile stretch of the M6 motorway was closed to all traffic as winds gusted up to 70mph causing several accidents, including the fatal one near Tebay early on Thursday. |
| A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "The HGV appeared to have been affected by the adverse weather and has blown over, causing the vehicle to collide into a central reservation." | A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "The HGV appeared to have been affected by the adverse weather and has blown over, causing the vehicle to collide into a central reservation." |
| In Wales, the M48 old Severn Bridge, the Cleddau Bridge in Pembrokeshire and the Britannia Bridge in north Wales are closed to high-sided vehicles. | In Wales, the M48 old Severn Bridge, the Cleddau Bridge in Pembrokeshire and the Britannia Bridge in north Wales are closed to high-sided vehicles. |
| In Scotland, restrictions are in place on the Tay and Erskine bridges, and further north there were also warnings on the Skye and Kessock bridges. | In Scotland, restrictions are in place on the Tay and Erskine bridges, and further north there were also warnings on the Skye and Kessock bridges. |
| Around Aberdeenshire, police are warning that heavy snow, fallen trees, and a number of other minor incidents are causing problems for motorists. | Around Aberdeenshire, police are warning that heavy snow, fallen trees, and a number of other minor incidents are causing problems for motorists. |
| A Grampian Police spokesman said: "Drivers are warned to be wary of the possibility of trees or other debris on roads, in view of the current weather conditions, and to take particular care." | A Grampian Police spokesman said: "Drivers are warned to be wary of the possibility of trees or other debris on roads, in view of the current weather conditions, and to take particular care." |
| Also in Aberdeenshire, a 61-year-old ice climber who was stranded on a cliff after injuring his leg, was rescued in an operation involving up to 50 people. | Also in Aberdeenshire, a 61-year-old ice climber who was stranded on a cliff after injuring his leg, was rescued in an operation involving up to 50 people. |
| Teams from RAF Leuchars and Lossiemouth braved blizzards to save the man, who was located at 0430 GMT on Thursday in Raeburns Gully, Deeside. | Teams from RAF Leuchars and Lossiemouth braved blizzards to save the man, who was located at 0430 GMT on Thursday in Raeburns Gully, Deeside. |