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UK storms: Man dies as 'almost unparalleled natural crisis' grips UK UK storms: Man dies amid 'almost unparalleled natural crisis'
(about 1 hour later)
A man has died apparently trying to clear a fallen tree as hurricane-force winds batter parts of the UK.A man has died apparently trying to clear a fallen tree as hurricane-force winds batter parts of the UK.
The dead man, believed to be in his 70s, was killed after the tree brought down power cables in Wiltshire.The dead man, believed to be in his 70s, was killed after the tree brought down power cables in Wiltshire.
There are Met Office "red warnings" for wind in north-west England and Wales and 16 severe flood warnings remaining. Gusts of over 100mph were recorded as Met Office "red warnings", the first of the winter, were issued. Sixteen severe flood warnings remain in place.
Thousands of homes have no power and road and rail links have been badly hit, in what has been called an "almost unparalleled natural crisis". Power and transport networks have been badly hit, in what has been called an "almost unparalleled natural crisis".
Residents in many parts of the UK have been warned not to go out.Residents in many parts of the UK have been warned not to go out.
Wiltshire Police say the dead man, believed to be in his 70s, was killed in Bremhill, a village between Calne and Chippenham, on Wednesday afternoon and may have been electrocuted. Wiltshire Police say the dead man was killed in a suspected electrocution in Bremhill, a village between Calne and Chippenham, on Wednesday afternoon.
The red warnings, meaning there remains a "risk to life" with widespread damage expected, are the first this winter.
The severe flood warnings remain for Berkshire, Surrey and Somerset, which have already been hit by severe flooding, with hundreds of homes evacuated.The severe flood warnings remain for Berkshire, Surrey and Somerset, which have already been hit by severe flooding, with hundreds of homes evacuated.
Assistant chief of the defence staff Major General Patrick Sanders, who is coordinating the armed forces response, described the ongoing severe weather as an "almost unparalleled natural crisis". Assistant chief of the defence staff Major General Patrick Sanders, who is co-ordinating the armed forces response, described the ongoing severe weather as an "almost unparalleled natural crisis".
Around 87,000 homes in Wales and more than a quarter of a million in Republic of Ireland have been left without power, while 8,100 homes in south-west England and 10,000 in the West Midlands were affected. Around 87,000 homes in Wales and more than a quarter of a million in Republic of Ireland have been left without power, while 3,000 homes in south-west England and 13,000 in the West Midlands are affected.
Phil Davies, Network Service manager for Western Power, says his engineers are facing the most difficult conditions they've ever seen. In northern England, 10,000 homes in Cheshire, 5,500 homes in north Shropshire and 2,500 homes in The Wirral are without power.
Phil Davies, network service manager for Western Power, said his engineers were facing the most difficult conditions they had ever seen.
The Met Office said a wind gust of 108mph was recorded at Aberdaron, North Wales, earlier on Wednesday - the strongest wind gust on land of the recent storms.The Met Office said a wind gust of 108mph was recorded at Aberdaron, North Wales, earlier on Wednesday - the strongest wind gust on land of the recent storms.
Gusts of 110mph were recorded at sea off the coast of the southern Irish Republic while at Mumbles Head, South Wales, 92mph was recorded. Winds of 96mph winds were recorded at the Needles, off the Isle of Wight.Gusts of 110mph were recorded at sea off the coast of the southern Irish Republic while at Mumbles Head, South Wales, 92mph was recorded. Winds of 96mph winds were recorded at the Needles, off the Isle of Wight.
Electric power cables and trees have been brought down by winds of up to 94mph, blocking roads in Devon and Cornwall.Electric power cables and trees have been brought down by winds of up to 94mph, blocking roads in Devon and Cornwall.
The Met Office said: "Winds of this strength can cause widespread structural damage, bringing down trees and also leading to loss of power supplies."The Met Office said: "Winds of this strength can cause widespread structural damage, bringing down trees and also leading to loss of power supplies."
They advised people to change travel plans during the storm-force winds, as the weather brought extensive disruption to roads and railways.They advised people to change travel plans during the storm-force winds, as the weather brought extensive disruption to roads and railways.
A section of the West Coast main line in Lancashire was closed between 7pm and 9pm, while the M6 at Thelwall Viaduct was closed in both directions between junctions 20 and 21. The M62 was also shut both ways between junction 22 and 23. A section of the west coast main line in Lancashire was closed between 19:00 and 21:00 GMT, while the M6 at Thelwall Viaduct was closed in both directions between junctions 20 and 21. The M62 was also shut both ways between junction 22 and 23.
At Crewe railway station around 500 passengers were evacuated and taken to a nearby hotel after roof panels fell on to overhead lines and caused a fire, leaving trains stranded outside the station. At Crewe railway station about 500 passengers were evacuated and taken to a nearby hotel after roof panels fell on to overhead lines and caused a fire, leaving trains stranded outside the station.
Becky Kelly, a BBC producer who was on one of the halted trains, said: "I was stuck on a train going to Liverpool and we were told very quickly to evacuate and we were rushed off the train and rushed outside the station. Then fire and police arrived.Becky Kelly, a BBC producer who was on one of the halted trains, said: "I was stuck on a train going to Liverpool and we were told very quickly to evacuate and we were rushed off the train and rushed outside the station. Then fire and police arrived.
"We were told overhead power cables had gone on fire.""We were told overhead power cables had gone on fire."
The station was later opened to allow stranded passengers to get off their trains.The station was later opened to allow stranded passengers to get off their trains.
West Country rail services are severely affected by the severe flooding, while services in Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Sussex, Kent and Surrey are heavily disrupted.West Country rail services are severely affected by the severe flooding, while services in Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Sussex, Kent and Surrey are heavily disrupted.
Virgin Trains has advised all passengers not to attempt travel and there are major disruptions for other rail services, with severe delays between Reading and London due to flooding near Maidenhead. Most of Virgin's West Coast Main Line services are suspended. Virgin Trains has advised all passengers not to attempt travel and there are major disruptions for other rail services, with severe delays between Reading and London due to flooding near Maidenhead. Most of Virgin's west coast main line services are suspended.
The last red weather warning was issued in January 2013 as heavy snow hit Wales. Before that, the most recent red warning had been issued in January 2012, for wind in Scotland. The rare Met Office red warnings, of wind posing a "risk to life", expired at 21:00 GMT. Before Wednesday, the last red warning was issued in January 2013 as heavy snow hit Wales; before that, a red warning of wind was issued in January 2012 in Scotland.
Other updates include:Other updates include:
In the Commons, he repeated his pledge that "money is no object in this relief effort" as he unveiled a package of measures to help businesses and homeowners repairing flood-damaged property. In the Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron repeated his pledge that "money is no object in this relief effort" as he unveiled a package of measures to help businesses and homeowners repairing flood-damaged property.
Environment Agency chief executive Paul Leinster told the committee that water levels could rise to "higher than current levels" over the weekend, with particular concerns about the Thames between Oxford to Maidenhead and also below Maidenhead.Environment Agency chief executive Paul Leinster told the committee that water levels could rise to "higher than current levels" over the weekend, with particular concerns about the Thames between Oxford to Maidenhead and also below Maidenhead.
'Unprecedented' flooding'Unprecedented' flooding
More than 1,000 homes have been evacuated along the Thames after towns and villages including Wraysbury, Chertsey and Datchet were flooded.More than 1,000 homes have been evacuated along the Thames after towns and villages including Wraysbury, Chertsey and Datchet were flooded.
As well as 16 severe flood warnings, the Environment Agency has also issued about 400 less serious flood warnings and alerts, mostly in southern England and the Midlands.As well as 16 severe flood warnings, the Environment Agency has also issued about 400 less serious flood warnings and alerts, mostly in southern England and the Midlands.
The agency said it looked "increasingly likely" there would be problems along the River Severn and River Wye.The agency said it looked "increasingly likely" there would be problems along the River Severn and River Wye.
And it said groundwater levels were so high in some parts of the country that flooding was likely to persist for weeks or even months flooding was likely to persist for weeks or even months. And it said groundwater levels were so high in some parts of the country that flooding was likely to persist for weeks or even months.
Are you in the affected areas? Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the affected areas? Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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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