Man dies as storm brings tree down on car

A man has died after the car he was driving was hit by a falling tree as Storm Darragh battered the West Midlands.

His death, in Birmingham, comes after hundreds of trees were brought down in the region amid 60mph (97kmh) winds, with rail lines blocked and homes flooded.

Emergency crews were called to Erdington where the driver died at about 15:00 GMT in Sutton Road, West Midlands Police said.

The road is currently closed as investigations continue, while high winds continue to batter the region.

Sgt Benjamin Parsons, of the West Midlands force's roads policing unit, said: "Our thoughts are with the man's family at this time and his next of kin have been informed.

"A report will be passed on to the coroner. Anyone who saw what happened or who may have dashcam or mobile phone footage is asked to please get in touch."

Elsewhere in Birmingham, high winds caused a Poundland shop window to shatter in Kings Heath, disrupting traffic, while in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, a giant cedar tree dating back to Victorian times was brought down.

In Shropshire, a Gobowen family had to be rescued from their flooded home by firefighters and the Environment Agency has confirmed a number of flood warnings remain in place.

Trees that fell on to rail power lines forced the closure of the Cross City South line from Bromsgrove and Redditch to Birmingham New Street, West Midlands Trains said.

The company said it was too dangerous to move them in the high winds, with the storm also disrupting services into Birmingham from Stratford-upon-Avon, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton.

In most cases objects blown on to railway lines caused the disruption, but a track circuit failure was blamed for the problems between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton.

Passenger Max Mulgrew, whose Cross City South train was diverted, said he had seen the crew get out of the train on one occasion to clear debris off the line.

"They kept us very well informed and they were very helpful to the passengers," Mr Mulgrew said.

He also said passengers had been in good spirits because they were "going to concerts or social events in town and were in no hurry".

In Gobowen, firefighters were called to help the stranded family and their pets escape their flooded property.

They used what they called a "water sled" to get them out, before issuing a plea for people not to travel unless it was necessary and to avoid driving through flood water.

Back in Birmingham, Christmas party-goers had to dodge debris flying around the street, while trees were brought down on roads around the region.

One large tree was brought down in Icknield Port Road, Ladywood, disrupting traffic.

The Environment Agency has warned of further serious flooding in Halesowen, Hereford, Bewdley and north Shropshire, in the coming hours.

The agency has flood warnings in place in those areas and a number of flood alerts elsewhere in the region.

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