Eleven people died and hundreds were injured as severe gale-force winds uprooted trees, wrecked buildings and overturned lorries. Thousands of households had their electricity cut off after power lines were damaged.

Warnings were issued by weather agencies and road and rail organisations throughout the day as 70-80mph gusts swept across much of the country, with some gales close to 100mph. A spokesman for the Met Office said that it defined the power of a storm by the fastest gust of wind lasting more than three seconds, recorded by its equipment.

Victims

• Richard Heard, 49, was killed at the wheel of his car shortly after he left his home in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. He died at the scene of neck injuries despite efforts by paramedics to resuscitate him.

  His wife, Kay, 50, said: “We are absolutely devastated. I am very shaken. This is very difficult news to take.”

  Related Links

  • Trouble caused by powerful 'conveyor belt' wind

  The couple, who had been married for 23 years, have two daughters. The younger, aged 15, said: “At about 6.30 this morning, two policeman came and knocked on the door to tell us what had happened. The whole family is in shock.”

  Business leaders paid tribute to Mr Heard, who had been spearheading the growth planned for Birmingham airport over the next decade.

• Dozens of people were injured by flying debris, including a man who was taken to hospital after the roof of Bar Vin in Bournemouth collapsed.

Rescue

• Two Royal Navy helicopters winched the crew of a stricken cargo ship to safety in winds of more than 50mph as waves up to 50ft high crashed around them. Twenty-six seamen had been forced to abandon ship after the MSC Napoli, a container ship with a “dangerous” cargo of pesticides, was holed and lost power 50 miles south of Lizard Point in Cornwall yesterday morning.

  The Sea King helicopters winched them to safety as they were tossed around in heavy seas inside their lifeboat.

  Forbes Duthie, 20, a deckhand from Inverness, said: “I was sleeping in my cabin when I heard a lot of screaming and shouting. I got up and one of the Bulgarian crew was shouting that the ship was broken and I should get my survival gear on. It was like the end of the world.

  “It was such a relief to get airlifted off and to walk on dry land.”

  Page 1 of 3

   Next Page

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Milk: do we need a dairy godmother?
• DIY: the women doing it for themselves
• First double portrait of Princes unveiled