Storm Barra: BBC Weather warns of strong winds across UK
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Venetia Smith went missing from her home in Blandford, Dorset, and the 80-year-old’s stroller was found at a bridge over the Stour. It is believed she fell in and was swept away. A body was found a mile downstream yesterday afternoon, said Dorset Police. Elsewhere, fallen trees blocked roads and rail lines, while ferries and trains were cancelled and buildings damaged.
A man and a woman were hurt and taken to hospital after a tree fell on them in Fitz Park, Keswick, Cumbria.
One casualty had to be rescued from under the debris but neither person was thought to be seriously injured.
Stranraer Academy secondary school in Dumfries and Galloway was closed after winds caused structural damage to its roof.
High spring tides and strong winds sent the sea crashing ashore in Langstone, Hants, where staff at the village’s Royal Oak pub bailed out the building to keep it dry.
Passengers were stuck on a train for three hours after it was reportedly hit by a giant wave in Dawlish, Devon, and Plymouth’s Christmas Market shut in “extreme weather”.
Skiing was abandoned at the UK’s longest indoor slope, the Chill Factore in Manchester, after the roof was badly damaged and nearby car parks were also shut.
Bosses said all the centre’s activities had been cancelled to safeguard staff and customers after part of its roof was ripped away.
A spokesman said: “The building has sustained some damage due to the severe winds.
“As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our building and surrounding car parks with immediate effect to protect the health and safety of our guests and team.”
The Met Office issued several warnings for wind, snow and ice.
Drivers were urged to take extra care and walkers were advised to avoid beaches, promenades and coastal paths.
Yellow wind warnings were in place for much of the UK and gusts reached 70mph in the Scilly Isles as the storm thundered in from the Atlantic.
Warnings were still in force in South Wales and south-west England for today.
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency issued eight flood warnings.
Residents as far apart as Somerset and Hartlepool were told to expect problems and there were 50 flood alerts in other areas.
Northern Ireland suffered the worst of yesterday’s gales, with more than 5,000 homes and businesses losing power.
Barra added to problems in north-east England 11 days after Barra’s predecessor, Storm Arwen, roared in.
Electricity network operator Western Power said 446 homes in Wales had lost supply too.
Ferries between Fishguard, Pembrokeshire and Ireland were cancelled as were services connecting the Isle of Man and the mainland.
In neighbouring Cornwall, the St Mawes ferry was halted and the cliffside Minack Theatre closed by high winds.
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