FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, FROM EAST TO WEST, A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION

Thousands of people in the Midlands were without electricity yesterday afternoon. In the East Midlands, 5,000 customers were off supply, mainly in north Nottingham and Derbyshire. This figure was reduced from the 10,000 who were without power this morning.

Northamptonshire Police said high winds were causing disruption across the county's roads, with many affected by fallen trees and branches.

The force dealt with approximately 30 incidents of trees blocking roads this morning.

Two women had to be cut free from a car when a tree blew down on it in Eaglescliffe, Teesside, on Thursday night. They were taken to the University Hospital of North Tees with what were thought to be back injuries.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service had 33 weather-related calls between 5pm on Wednesday and 2.30pm yesterday.

At least eight of the calls involved fallen trees. Firefighters were called out after a tree fell on a car with three women inside in Thornton, near Crosby, shortly after 9pm.

The women had managed to escape the vehicle before crews arrived.



North Yorkshire Police on Wednesday evening urged motorists to make only essential journeys. Reported A66 was closed after a tree fell on to the A19 and several lorries were blown over in high winds.

The Highways Agency said the Severn Crossing between England and Wales was closed to high-sided vehicles and motorcycles due to strong winds.



It also warned anyone planning to use the Dartford Crossing between Kent and Essex of possible delays.

Humberside Police say trees come down overnight blocking roads and causing obstructions in areas of Grimsby, Hull, Bridlington, Driffield and Snaith.



Humber Bridge and the M62 over the Ouse Bridge, near Howden, were both closed to high-sided vehicles.



North Yorkshire Fire Service said crews were called out to localised flooding at a small number of homes in the Skipton area and firefighters used a boat to help rescue a barge which was in danger of overturning when it was caught in moorings on the River Ouse in central York.



Lorry driver taken to hospital when an HGV overturned on the A1 at Leeming and crews were called to two incidents of cars trapped in flood water - one in Acaster Malbis, near York, and the other at Embsay, near Skipton.



In Scotland, buses replaced trains between Paisley Gilmour Street and Gourock/ Wemyss Bay.



A tree on the line at Porchester in Hampshire led to train delays in the area, while another fallen tree at Wood End in the West Midlands caused delays to London Midland services between Stratford-upon-Avon and Shirley.



Overhead wire problems caused disruption between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District. There were delays of up to 45 minutes between Carlisle and Lancaster.



Cheshire Police said officers had attended more than 15 incidents relating to fallen trees, branches, and debris in the road since 6am yesterday.

In Cambridgeshire, police said more than 20 trees were brought down by strong winds overnight.



Essex Fire Service said it had been called out to dozens of incidents, including fallen cables and trees and dislodged television aerials.



Norfolk County Council said it dealt with 200 incidents on the county's roads overnight as gales and rain brought trees, branches and a power line down, and blew debris on to roads and pavements.



Seven two-man road gangs were in action throughout the night and responded to around 120 incidents reported by the police.



Three schools were closed because of weather-related problems.



High winds brought down trees and power lines across the South West, blocking several roads.



Power lines blocked a bus route in Plymouth after they were brought down between Little Comfort and Treburley.



The A388 was blocked by a tree just north of the Springer Spaniel pub, half way between Callington and Launceston in Devon, and in south-east Cornwall, Trelawney Road was closed in Menheniot because of a fallen tree.



Trees also blocked at least two routes near Exeter and firefighters had to secure a metal shed in Cullompton after it blew across a garden.



A sandbank whipped up by the strong winds from a beach closed a road in Widemouth Bay, near Bude in Cornwall.



In Gloucestershire fire crews were called out after a tree caught fire in Twyning due to collapsed power cables.

Approximately five other roads in the county were also affected by falling trees.



Somerset Council said it had six recorded incidents of downed trees, including one where the tree was 'resting' on a power line at Smith's Lane, Fivehead, near Taunton.

Environment Agency flood alerts remain in place for a number of rivers including the River Tavy at Tavistock and most the the River Tamar.



Around 1,000 homes in the Salisbury area of Wiltshire are without electricity after power cables came down due to strong winds, Southern Electric said.



Shrewton, Coombe Bassett, Stapleford, Berwick St James, Winterbourne Stoke and Broadchalke were all affected.

