Trees down, roads closed and rail services hit as high winds hit Shropshire and Mid Wales - with video
Road were closed and trains delayed today as fallen trees and debris caused travel problems across Shropshire and Mid Wales this morning, following last night's high winds.
Gusts of up to 59mph were recorded by the Met Office station at RAF Shawbury.
Two vans were damaged after a tree toppled onto them in Stephenson Drive, Belle Vue, Shrewsbury, at 3am.
Householders Clare and Shaun O'Callaghan said they woke up to find the large tree on top of their white Luton van and a camper van parked outside. The road was blocked. The couple claim they have previously reported concerns about the safety of the tree many times to Shropshire Council.
Pave Lane in Chetwynd Aston, near Newport, was closed after trees came down damaging power cables. Contractors cleared the road this morning.
Fallen trees were also reported in Longford Road in Newport, between Boughey Road and Longford; on the B4579 Oswestry to Selattyn road; the A442 at Cold Hatton; Southall Road/Old Vicarage Road, Dawley; Puleston Common and Chetwynd Church.
Train services were suspended between Newtown and Welshpool after a freight train smashed into two sheds which had been blown onto the track. Coach services were running between Shrewsbury and Machynlleth.
Trains from Wrexham to Shrewsbury were being diverted or cancelled after the track was obstructed by debris.
The wind blew a trampoline from a garden onto a road in Shrewsbury.
Sarah Johnson came across the trampoline at 7.30am in Sutton Farm, on Tilstock Crescent, when she was walking her dog.
Ms Johnson said: "It was shortly after 7.30am. I was taking my dog for a walk, we rounded the corner and there it was.
"It was still and had come to rest on a car which I couldn’t see at the time. Both have since gone so I don’t think there was much damage but as an example of what the wind was up to last night, it’s quite an indicator."
Flood alerts were also in place today for the River Severn and Severn Vyrnwy Confluence in Shropshire.
Eleswhere, severe gales brought travel disruption after gusts of more than 80mph battered parts of Britain overnight.
Drivers were warned to only travel if necessary while railway passengers faced severe delays as trains collided with fallen trees and other debris blocking lines.
Forecasters issued yellow “be aware” wind warnings as gusts reached 83mph in Tibenham Airfield, near Norwich, and 78mph in Aberdaron, Wales, while police urged motorists to drive with “extreme caution” amid wintry conditions in Scotland.
UK Power Networks said more than 5,000 customers were affected by power cuts in the Geat Yarmouth area with hundreds more homes impacted across the east of England.
