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Man dies as 80mph gusts batter the UK


By PA News

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Snowfall in Whitley Bay, Northumberland (PA)

A man has died and travel plans have been severely disrupted as Storm Arwen battered the UK.

Roads were closed by fallen debris in the worst-hit parts of Scotland, while LNER train services north of Newcastle were also ground to a halt, with high winds, heavy rain and snowfall arriving from Friday afternoon.

The worst of the weather was expected to be over by Saturday morning, although the Met Office warned the north-east of England, north-west of England, Yorkshire, the West Midlands and the East Midlands will experience cold weather until Monday.

In Northern Ireland, a man was killed when his car was struck by a falling tree in Antrim.

Friday night’s rugby union Premiership game between Newcastle Falcons and Worcester Warriors was postponed until Saturday evening due to safety concerns.

And in North Wales, ITV was forced to pre-record Friday night’s live episode of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! amid concerns, including that poor weather would interfere with the broadcast around Gwrych Castle.

Meanwhile ScotRail services were disrupted between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street, Dunblane and Stirling after a barn was blown onto the line close to Polmont, near Falkirk.

The Met Office described the conditions as “horrendous”, with gusts of 78mph recorded just south of Aberdeen.

People also reported power cuts.

Footage showed howling winds whipping up the North Sea in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, and snowfall elsewhere, including in Redcar, Yorkshire, and Whitley Bay, Northumberland.

A Met Office statement said: “People should stay away from the coast as waves and debris are a danger to life.”

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