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| Drivers stranded as storms hit UK | Drivers stranded as storms hit UK |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Severe weather and heavy storms have been battering much of the UK, causing disruption and delay for travellers. | Severe weather and heavy storms have been battering much of the UK, causing disruption and delay for travellers. |
| Durham police have launched a rescue operation after at least 150 motorists became stuck in snow on the A66. | Durham police have launched a rescue operation after at least 150 motorists became stuck in snow on the A66. |
| Earlier crew and passengers had to be rescued from two ships that got into trouble off the coast of Blackpool and on one of the islands of St Kilda. | Earlier crew and passengers had to be rescued from two ships that got into trouble off the coast of Blackpool and on one of the islands of St Kilda. |
| Blizzards have affected much of Scotland and northern England, with snow recorded as deep as 15cm (5.9ins). | Blizzards have affected much of Scotland and northern England, with snow recorded as deep as 15cm (5.9ins). |
| Freak wave | Freak wave |
| A coach carrying 40 pensioners was among the vehicles stranded on the A66, Neil Sterio of the Highways Agency told BBC News 24. | A coach carrying 40 pensioners was among the vehicles stranded on the A66, Neil Sterio of the Highways Agency told BBC News 24. |
| "There are about 100 people still there," he said. | "There are about 100 people still there," he said. |
| Emergency services are evacuating rescued motorists to a hall and a pub in the village of Bowes, County Durham. | Emergency services are evacuating rescued motorists to a hall and a pub in the village of Bowes, County Durham. |
| Ch Insp Graham Rankin said: "Police and volunteers are trying to make sure that vulnerable people are kept warm and fed and watered." | Ch Insp Graham Rankin said: "Police and volunteers are trying to make sure that vulnerable people are kept warm and fed and watered." |
| Robert Campbell, 32, from Penicuik, Midlothian, is a passenger in one lorry stuck on the road. | Robert Campbell, 32, from Penicuik, Midlothian, is a passenger in one lorry stuck on the road. |
| He told the BBC News website: "The snowdrifts cover my boots when I go outside. They seem to have got the cars off the road, but the lorries are still stranded." | He told the BBC News website: "The snowdrifts cover my boots when I go outside. They seem to have got the cars off the road, but the lorries are still stranded." |
| Motorists elsewhere have been hit by high winds which have caused several accidents, and two filling stations in Cumbria have had parts of their roofs blown off. | Motorists elsewhere have been hit by high winds which have caused several accidents, and two filling stations in Cumbria have had parts of their roofs blown off. |
| The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings across the UK with the exception of south-east England. | The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings across the UK with the exception of south-east England. |
| Adverse weather has left 1,250 homes without power in north Lincolnshire, and CE Electrics say they are currently unsure when power will be restored. | |
| Earlier, rescuers airlifted 23 passengers and crew from the Riverdance freight ferry which was beached by a freak wave off Blackpool's coast on Thursday night. | Earlier, rescuers airlifted 23 passengers and crew from the Riverdance freight ferry which was beached by a freak wave off Blackpool's coast on Thursday night. |
| Operation to float ferryUK weather in pictures | Operation to float ferryUK weather in pictures |
| The freight vessel which had been taking trucks from Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland to the port of Heysham in Lancashire began listing at an angle of 60 degrees off the coast. | The freight vessel which had been taking trucks from Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland to the port of Heysham in Lancashire began listing at an angle of 60 degrees off the coast. |
| It is being closely monitored by the coastguard in case of any oil spills. The ferry is carrying 150 tonnes of fuel. | It is being closely monitored by the coastguard in case of any oil spills. The ferry is carrying 150 tonnes of fuel. |
| One of those involved in the recovery operation praised the rescue crews and the Riverdance's captain. | One of those involved in the recovery operation praised the rescue crews and the Riverdance's captain. |
| John Matthews, from Fleetwood RNLI, said: "The conditions were terrible. I've got to say that the two lifeboat crews and the helicopters did a wonderful job. | John Matthews, from Fleetwood RNLI, said: "The conditions were terrible. I've got to say that the two lifeboat crews and the helicopters did a wonderful job. |
| "Listening to it on the radio, everything was very calm and professional. I was quite amazed by how calm the master of the ship was." | "Listening to it on the radio, everything was very calm and professional. I was quite amazed by how calm the master of the ship was." |
| Mr Matthews said it was "some of the worst" weather the Fleetwood lifeboat had ever been sent out in. | Mr Matthews said it was "some of the worst" weather the Fleetwood lifeboat had ever been sent out in. |
| Environment fears | Environment fears |
| In a separate incident, a helicopter winched 14 people to safety from the stricken trawler off St Kilda. | In a separate incident, a helicopter winched 14 people to safety from the stricken trawler off St Kilda. |
| The Spanish crew of the British-registered Spinningdale trawler have now been flown to Stornoway. Four were taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia. | The Spanish crew of the British-registered Spinningdale trawler have now been flown to Stornoway. Four were taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia. |
| Their vessel ran aground on rocks on one of the islands of the St Kilda archipelago - 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides. | Their vessel ran aground on rocks on one of the islands of the St Kilda archipelago - 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides. |
| The trawler hit rocks on the St Kilda islands, the remotest part of Britain The coastguard | The trawler hit rocks on the St Kilda islands, the remotest part of Britain The coastguard |
| They were unable to evacuate to a life raft because of Force 9 winds. | They were unable to evacuate to a life raft because of Force 9 winds. |
| The Marine Accident Investigation Branch will launch an investigation into the incident amid fears the trawler could pose an environmental risk to the archipelago, which is a twice-listed World Heritage Site. | The Marine Accident Investigation Branch will launch an investigation into the incident amid fears the trawler could pose an environmental risk to the archipelago, which is a twice-listed World Heritage Site. |
| Jamie Ralston, the rescue centre co-ordinator at Stornoway Coastguard, told the BBC: "Our main concern ... if the vessel does break up, there was 8,000 litres of fuel oil and 450 litres of lube oil on board the vessel, is what damage that might do to the surrounding coastline and wildlife." | Jamie Ralston, the rescue centre co-ordinator at Stornoway Coastguard, told the BBC: "Our main concern ... if the vessel does break up, there was 8,000 litres of fuel oil and 450 litres of lube oil on board the vessel, is what damage that might do to the surrounding coastline and wildlife." |
| Are you stuck on the A66? Do you have friends or family stuck on the road? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you stuck on the A66? Do you have friends or family stuck on the road? Send us your comments using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: | You can send pictures and video to: |
| yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see terms and conditions | yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see 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. |