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The driver of this HGV died when it overturned in high winds onto other cars on the A801 in West Lothian. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
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Lorry driver killed as UK lashed by major storm
Emergency committee meets to discuss response as rail services disrupted, flights cancelled and power cut.
A STORM LASHED Scotland and other parts of the UK with gusts of up to 142 mph (228 kmph) early this morning, killing one person and causing the cancellation of all trains and some planes.
More than 25,000 homes were left without power in Scotland and Northern Ireland - thousands are also experiencing outages in Ireland, especially in Donegal, Meath and Dublin.
Forecasters warned that the storm could produce the worst tidal surge in decades along the low-lying coast of eastern England later in the day.
While Met Éireann issued a wind warning for Ireland, the British government was reportedly to convene its emergency committee to discuss its response to the storm.
High winds and sea batter the Antrim coast road – thousands of homes in Northern Ireland had power knocked out. Pic: Paul Faith/PA Wire
All rail services in Scotland were cancelled because of debris on the lines and damage to equipment, operator Network Rail said.
“We cannot continue to run trains with the levels of wind we are seeing,” spokesman Nick King said.
Some flights from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports were also being cancelled because of the weather conditions.
Police advised drivers in most of Scotland to avoid travelling.
A driver has a lucky escape as a tree fell on her car in Solihull, Birmingham. Pic: Joe Giddens/PA Wire.
A lorry driver was killed when his vehicle toppled onto a number of cars in West Lothian, a county near Edinburgh, police said.
At least two other people were injured by falling trees.
Clearing a fallen tree in Davidsons Mains, Edinburgh, Scotland. Pic: David Cheskin/PA Wire.
Britain’s Meteorological Office said it had recorded a gust of 142 mph (228 kilometres per hour) in the mountains of Inverness-shire, Scotland, while there were widespread winds of between 60 and 80 mph in populated areas.
Scottish Power said 20,000 homes are without electricity in central and southern Scotland. In Northern Ireland 6,500 homes were left without power.
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