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| Storms across Britain leave four dead and Christmas travel in chaos | Storms across Britain leave four dead and Christmas travel in chaos |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Four people have died isince Monday after the UK was battered by strong winds and heavy rain, with the stormy weather causing widespread chaos to rail, road, air and ferry travel as countless thousands attempted to make journeys before Christmas. | |
| Torrential downpours made conditions hazardous in many places. Two people died in rain-swollen rivers, a man in the river Rothesay in Ambleside, Cumbria, and a woman in Gwynedd, north Wales, the latter reportedly after she left her house to check on her water supply. In Shrewsbury, Shropshire, a woman died on Monday night after a three-car crash in what emergency services described as difficult driving conditions. | Torrential downpours made conditions hazardous in many places. Two people died in rain-swollen rivers, a man in the river Rothesay in Ambleside, Cumbria, and a woman in Gwynedd, north Wales, the latter reportedly after she left her house to check on her water supply. In Shrewsbury, Shropshire, a woman died on Monday night after a three-car crash in what emergency services described as difficult driving conditions. |
| A body was also found in a stream in by a dog walker in Horton, Telford, just before 9am on Tuesday, but West Mercia police could not immediately confirm if the body was male or female. | A body was also found in a stream in by a dog walker in Horton, Telford, just before 9am on Tuesday, but West Mercia police could not immediately confirm if the body was male or female. |
| With trains cancelled or severely delayed on a series of rail networks, crews have been working to clear storm debris from lines and repair power cables. There is currently a limited train service to Gatwick airport, south of London, which has also seen some flights cancelled or delay by a storm-caused power problem in the north terminal. | With trains cancelled or severely delayed on a series of rail networks, crews have been working to clear storm debris from lines and repair power cables. There is currently a limited train service to Gatwick airport, south of London, which has also seen some flights cancelled or delay by a storm-caused power problem in the north terminal. |
| The Environment Agency has 157 flood warnings in force, meaning flooding is expected, principally in the south-east and south-west of England, and a further 273 lower-level flood alerts. | The Environment Agency has 157 flood warnings in force, meaning flooding is expected, principally in the south-east and south-west of England, and a further 273 lower-level flood alerts. |
| The Met Office has amber weather warnings in place for the west of Scotland and Northern Isles, cautioning of winds gusting to 90mph, with less severe warnings for wind and snow across all Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as parts of north Wales and northern England. While conditions will ease into Christmas Day, and Boxing Day will be calmer still, another front of strong winds and heavy rain is forecast to hit much of the country on Friday. | The Met Office has amber weather warnings in place for the west of Scotland and Northern Isles, cautioning of winds gusting to 90mph, with less severe warnings for wind and snow across all Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as parts of north Wales and northern England. While conditions will ease into Christmas Day, and Boxing Day will be calmer still, another front of strong winds and heavy rain is forecast to hit much of the country on Friday. |
| A total of 150,000 homes were left without power, according to the Energy Networks Association, which represents power companies, mainly in the south of England. Kent, Surrey and Sussex were the worst affected areas, the organisation said. | A total of 150,000 homes were left without power, according to the Energy Networks Association, which represents power companies, mainly in the south of England. Kent, Surrey and Sussex were the worst affected areas, the organisation said. |
| The cumulative effect of the tempestuous conditions has been to severely hamper many people's Christmas getaways, albeit with the scale of the chaos alleviated by the fact this year's travel rush has been spread out, with many people making their trips at the end of last week or over the weekend. | The cumulative effect of the tempestuous conditions has been to severely hamper many people's Christmas getaways, albeit with the scale of the chaos alleviated by the fact this year's travel rush has been spread out, with many people making their trips at the end of last week or over the weekend. |
| Flights were badly affected on Monday night, with a number diverted to other airports due to the storm. Passengers recounted storm-tossed descents into airports including Gatwick, Heathrow and Bristol, with some planes diverted at the last moment. One passenger on a flight from Stockholm to Heathrow told the BBC he thought "everyone thought they were going to die", with the plane being "thrown about like a toy". | Flights were badly affected on Monday night, with a number diverted to other airports due to the storm. Passengers recounted storm-tossed descents into airports including Gatwick, Heathrow and Bristol, with some planes diverted at the last moment. One passenger on a flight from Stockholm to Heathrow told the BBC he thought "everyone thought they were going to die", with the plane being "thrown about like a toy". |
| While most airports were operating normally, passengers were advised to check with airlines before travelling. Gatwick's north terminal remained affected by the power cut, with delays to check-in and bags being loaded manually as conveyor belts had no power, while storm damage meant there were for a period no trains at all to the airport, with both Gatwick Express and Southern services suspended amid repairs to the line. Gatwick's south terminal was operating normally. | While most airports were operating normally, passengers were advised to check with airlines before travelling. Gatwick's north terminal remained affected by the power cut, with delays to check-in and bags being loaded manually as conveyor belts had no power, while storm damage meant there were for a period no trains at all to the airport, with both Gatwick Express and Southern services suspended amid repairs to the line. Gatwick's south terminal was operating normally. |
| Some tempers were fraying among delayed passengers. Graziella Vella, 37-year-old a make-up artist from Kilburn in north-west London, was due to fly to Malta to spend Christmas with her family. She said: "I am fuming and absolutely desperate - there has been no information at all and we can't make alternative plans. We're just hanging in limbo. At least if they said, 'Nothing is going to happen, come back tomorrow', but there is no information of any kind. It is absolutely chockablock and in the check-in room upstairs there are 50 people queuing for the one toilet that is working." | Some tempers were fraying among delayed passengers. Graziella Vella, 37-year-old a make-up artist from Kilburn in north-west London, was due to fly to Malta to spend Christmas with her family. She said: "I am fuming and absolutely desperate - there has been no information at all and we can't make alternative plans. We're just hanging in limbo. At least if they said, 'Nothing is going to happen, come back tomorrow', but there is no information of any kind. It is absolutely chockablock and in the check-in room upstairs there are 50 people queuing for the one toilet that is working." |
| Many other rail lines were less severely affected, including South West Trains, First Great Western, East Coast, Virgin and local services in Wales and the Midlands. A train-full of passengers on a First Great Western service to Plymouth spent the night stranded at Taunton in Devon. Passengers tweeted photos of their "bed for the night" – a seat – but praised train staff for their assistance. | Many other rail lines were less severely affected, including South West Trains, First Great Western, East Coast, Virgin and local services in Wales and the Midlands. A train-full of passengers on a First Great Western service to Plymouth spent the night stranded at Taunton in Devon. Passengers tweeted photos of their "bed for the night" – a seat – but praised train staff for their assistance. |
| On the roads, the Highways Agency reported a number of routes closed or subject to delays due to flooding, fallen trees or other incidents, with areas affected including Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Cornwall. In Dorset fire crews had to rescue 25 people trapped in their cars by floods. | On the roads, the Highways Agency reported a number of routes closed or subject to delays due to flooding, fallen trees or other incidents, with areas affected including Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Cornwall. In Dorset fire crews had to rescue 25 people trapped in their cars by floods. |
| Many ferry services remained disrupted, including services between Scotland and Northern Ireland, and to the Isle of Man. The port of Dover had to close overnight due to the strong winds but reopened again at 7.30am. | Many ferry services remained disrupted, including services between Scotland and Northern Ireland, and to the Isle of Man. The port of Dover had to close overnight due to the strong winds but reopened again at 7.30am. |
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