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Two die as severe weather hits pre-Christmas travel | Two die as severe weather hits pre-Christmas travel |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two people have died as storms sweep across the UK. | Two people have died as storms sweep across the UK. |
A man's body was pulled from the River Rothay in Cumbria by rescuers searching for a man who had been seen falling in. | A man's body was pulled from the River Rothay in Cumbria by rescuers searching for a man who had been seen falling in. |
In Gwynedd, north-west Wales, a woman's body was found in a stream in full flow near her house. | In Gwynedd, north-west Wales, a woman's body was found in a stream in full flow near her house. |
The deaths come as gale-force winds and heavy rain hit the Christmas getaway for road, rail, air and sea passengers. Fallen overhead power lines left thousands without electricity. | The deaths come as gale-force winds and heavy rain hit the Christmas getaway for road, rail, air and sea passengers. Fallen overhead power lines left thousands without electricity. |
'Excess of water' | 'Excess of water' |
Meanwhile, among those affected by the severe weather conditions: | Meanwhile, among those affected by the severe weather conditions: |
Insp Chris Wright, of Cumbria Police, said rivers in the county were "suffering an excess of water" because of the rain. | Insp Chris Wright, of Cumbria Police, said rivers in the county were "suffering an excess of water" because of the rain. |
The search of the River Rothay began when a member of the public saw someone fall into the water at 14:25 GMT, and the man's body was found about an hour later. He has not yet been identified. | The search of the River Rothay began when a member of the public saw someone fall into the water at 14:25 GMT, and the man's body was found about an hour later. He has not yet been identified. |
Insp Wright said: "It would be fair to say that the river in its current state did not assist the rescue operation. It was fast flowing, and a lot more water than normal, so yes it's fair to say that the weather contributed to the problem." | Insp Wright said: "It would be fair to say that the river in its current state did not assist the rescue operation. It was fast flowing, and a lot more water than normal, so yes it's fair to say that the weather contributed to the problem." |
In a separate incident, police in Bethesda, Gwynedd, are investigating the death of a woman whose body was recovered in water 50m from her house. It was thought the woman had left her house to check a water supply. | In a separate incident, police in Bethesda, Gwynedd, are investigating the death of a woman whose body was recovered in water 50m from her house. It was thought the woman had left her house to check a water supply. |
"It's a small stream that runs off the mountain - about half a metre wide and three-quarters of a metre deep - but it was in full flow," Paul Smith from the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team told BBC Wales. | "It's a small stream that runs off the mountain - about half a metre wide and three-quarters of a metre deep - but it was in full flow," Paul Smith from the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team told BBC Wales. |
'Serious storm' | 'Serious storm' |
The Met Office has amber "be prepared" alerts for rain in Wales, south-west England and London, and south-east England for Monday evening and Christmas Eve morning. | The Met Office has amber "be prepared" alerts for rain in Wales, south-west England and London, and south-east England for Monday evening and Christmas Eve morning. |
And it has amber warnings for wind for parts of the UK on Christmas Eve, including Northern Ireland, east England, and London and south-east England. | |
The Met Office has upgraded its warnings for high winds across large areas of northern and western Scotland. | |
Amber weather warnings now cover the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the north-west Highlands, Argyll and Bute, Orkney and Shetland. | |
BBC forecaster Peter Gibbs warned winds of 80mph would hit the south coast on Tuesday, while 70mph gusts were expected inland. | BBC forecaster Peter Gibbs warned winds of 80mph would hit the south coast on Tuesday, while 70mph gusts were expected inland. |
He said the worst weather on Tuesday would be in Scotland and Northern Ireland while more bad weather was on the way for Thursday and Friday. | He said the worst weather on Tuesday would be in Scotland and Northern Ireland while more bad weather was on the way for Thursday and Friday. |
"People might get there for Christmas, but they might have problems getting back later in the week," he added. | "People might get there for Christmas, but they might have problems getting back later in the week," he added. |
By Monday evening the wind had brought down more than 80 trees on train lines, Network Rail said, while mud-slides and flooding also caused delays. | By Monday evening the wind had brought down more than 80 trees on train lines, Network Rail said, while mud-slides and flooding also caused delays. |
Staff had had to clear trampolines and sheds from the lines, the rail company added. | Staff had had to clear trampolines and sheds from the lines, the rail company added. |
Dozens of train operators across England, Wales and Scotland have delayed or cancelled services after speed restrictions were imposed on many routes, and many services were finishing earlier than normal. | Dozens of train operators across England, Wales and Scotland have delayed or cancelled services after speed restrictions were imposed on many routes, and many services were finishing earlier than normal. |
Passengers were urged to travel as early as possible and advised to check the National Rail Enquiries website or speak to their train company. | Passengers were urged to travel as early as possible and advised to check the National Rail Enquiries website or speak to their train company. |
Some routes would start up "a little later than usual" on Christmas Eve, said Network Rail's Robin Gisby. | Some routes would start up "a little later than usual" on Christmas Eve, said Network Rail's Robin Gisby. |
Ferry services were also disrupted. On a ferry crossing from Portsmouth to Bilbao a passenger had to be airlifted from the ship after falling and injuring their neck. | Ferry services were also disrupted. On a ferry crossing from Portsmouth to Bilbao a passenger had to be airlifted from the ship after falling and injuring their neck. |
"A lot of us thought the ferry was going over," Catriona Koris told the BBC from onboard. | "A lot of us thought the ferry was going over," Catriona Koris told the BBC from onboard. |
The captain had anchored off France while carrier company Brittany Ferries cancelled its Portsmouth to Caen and Plymouth to Roscoff crossings, a spokesman said. | The captain had anchored off France while carrier company Brittany Ferries cancelled its Portsmouth to Caen and Plymouth to Roscoff crossings, a spokesman said. |
Passengers have reported lengthy delays to flights at Heathrow. | Passengers have reported lengthy delays to flights at Heathrow. |
One said: "Sat on our plane at Heathrow awaiting a potential departure time. Three flights have taken off in the last hour and there is a queue of 30. Not optimistic of making our respective destinations for Christmas Day." | One said: "Sat on our plane at Heathrow awaiting a potential departure time. Three flights have taken off in the last hour and there is a queue of 30. Not optimistic of making our respective destinations for Christmas Day." |
Another said: "Plane has left the gate and we are sitting waiting for the tower to allow us to move. Going to be a long night on the tarmac at Heathrow." | Another said: "Plane has left the gate and we are sitting waiting for the tower to allow us to move. Going to be a long night on the tarmac at Heathrow." |
The Environment Agency issued flood warnings across much of England and Wales, as well as the severe warning in Weymouth. | The Environment Agency issued flood warnings across much of England and Wales, as well as the severe warning in Weymouth. |
By Monday afternoon there were more than 70 flood warnings, indicating that immediate action is required, for south-west England, and others in the north-west, north-east and Anglian areas. | By Monday afternoon there were more than 70 flood warnings, indicating that immediate action is required, for south-west England, and others in the north-west, north-east and Anglian areas. |
The agency warned people not to try to drive through floodwater. | The agency warned people not to try to drive through floodwater. |
It warned that driving into just 30cm of water was enough to carry a car away, and advised people to heed warnings and move valuables upstairs if living in a "flood risk" area. | It warned that driving into just 30cm of water was enough to carry a car away, and advised people to heed warnings and move valuables upstairs if living in a "flood risk" area. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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