Three people killed and another five injured including two children as Hurricane Gonzalo batters Britain with 108mph winds and rain

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Three people have died and three more have been injured after winds of up to 108mph and heavy rain battered the UK today.

One woman died after a tree was uprooted opposite Knightsbridge Barracks, Kensington, during high winds caused by the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo, the London Ambulance Service said.

Elsewhere a man was crushed to death underneath a van in Canvey, Essex, after a van fell on top of him. The victim, in his thirties, was underneath the van repairing it when a strong gust of wind caused it to fall off a car jack at 10.40am. 

Another man, 63, was killed after his car hit a bridge near Merseyside, Liverpool, this morning. At the time of the crash the area was experiencing gusts of up to 35mph and heavy rain as the tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo blew ashore.

Three more people, one of whom was in a wheelchair, were injured by a fallen tree at Southwick Recreation Ground in West Sussex just before 10am. 

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A woman has died after being crushed by a tree opposite Knightsbridge Barracks in central London earlier this morning

The victim was killed at the scene as winds from the tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo felled trees and left homes without power

Firemen and emergency workers inspect the scene where a woman was killed as a tree was blown over in high winds

A cleanup of the area began late this evening once police and ambulance workers had concluded their work at the scene

The tree was cut into pieces and taken away after the accident occurred when the country was hit by the tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo

Huge waves hit the seafront in front of the famous Blackpool Tower as the tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo continues to batter the UK

Standing tall: This image of New Brighton lighthouse in Liverpool was captured earlier today as waves lashed the shore

Gently does it: A Ryanair jet comes in to land while struggling against strong winds at Leeds Bradford airport earlier today 

Heathrow cancelled 110 flights today due to poor weather but the pilots at Leeds Bradford airport (pictured) struggled on

Another tree blew down in Hackney, east London, today which damaged a car but nobody is thought to have been injured

The back of the car was destroyed after being hit by the tree earlier this morning which also took out a nearby lamppost

A 21-year-old man had to be treated for shock after his car sank into a river following a crash with a lorry in March, Cambridgeshire

The car ploughed through a 10ft section of metal railings before plunging into the river, though nobody was seriously injured

The trio, who have been taken to hospital with head and spinal injuries, were out for a stroll in the park when the tree came down.

Just 40 minutes after the woman was killed by a falling tree in Knightsbridge, a man in his 30s was seriously injured when he was hit by a branch of a toppled over tree as he walked through Eaton Square.

A spokeswoman for the Belgravia estate said the tree had not been identified as a risk by gardeners during recent assessments.

Firefighters were called to rescue the three women, one of which was in a wheelchair, alongside paramedics and a helicopter. 

Two women, who were trapped underneath, were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, suffering from back, neck and pelvic pain, and one suffered a head injury, a South East Coast Ambulance (Secamb) spokesman said.

A third casualty, who police believe was a woman in a wheelchair, was taken to Worthing Hospital by ambulance.   

NOW BRACE FOR MORE DELAYS: EVENING RUSH HOUR AT RISK IN AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE GONZALO

Air

Around 10,000 passengers have been affected after Heathrow canceled 110 flights this morning over safety fears

Rail

Network Rail say that a tree on the line at Bramley means trains cannot run between Reading and Basingstoke

South West Trains are reporting major delays between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids, Wimbledon and Guildford, and Guildford and Ascot due in part to a tree on the line at Hampton Court. Trains are running up to half an hour behind

Signalling problems led to delays to all routes through Sydenham in south east London earlier. While London Overground and Southern trains are now reporting a good service, there are still delays on Thameslink

Southeastern Trains are reporting delays of half an hour on services between Hither Green and Dartford

South West Trains tweeted this image of a tree on the tracks near Hampton Court this afternoon which has been causing delays

An obstruction on the line is also causing delays between Coventry and Rugby on London Midlands services of up to 30 minutes. Virgin trains reported delays along the same route, but the company says these have now cleared

Elsewhere, Virgin says there are still delays on services between Lockerbie and Carstairs due to high winds 

In Wales buses will replace trains between North Llanrwst and Blaenau Ffestiniog until the end of the day due to flooding

In Scotland, an obstruction on the line between Paisley St James and Bishopton is delaying Scotrail journeys by up to 50 minutes 

On Northern Rail services, signalling problems at Wavertree Technology Park are causing delays to trains of up to 20 minutes between Huyton and Liverpool Lime Street 

Merseyrail and CrossCountry are also reporting minor delays across their services this afternoon

Roads 

The A4 - which runs between Newbury and Bath - is closed completely at Hungerford 'for the foreseeable future' after scaffolding collapsed

On the A3 northbound between the A247 and the M25 junctions, an accident is currently causing around half an hour of delays after one lane was closed

On the M48 westbound at junction one, there are currently delays of ten minutes due to 'an incident' closing two lanes

On the A628 eastbound between the junctions with the A57 and the A616, there are currently delays of ten minutes due to a broken down vehicle

There were also delays of up to 15 minutes reported along the A5, M3, M25, A14, and M11 due to heavy traffic ahead of the rush hour

By 2.30pm today, the AA had attended more than 5,400 breakdowns, currently coming in at around 730 every hour. 

Storm clouds gather above as a boat crosses the English Channel today off the coast of Dover

This image, sent in by reader Samantha Batts, shows clouds gathering over Clacton On Sea before the storm hit this morning

Gloomy: The worst of the weather has now passed over the UK but there will be further heavy rain this evening

Blackpool was battered by waves whipped up by strong winds today (pictured, children struggle against a strong gust on the sea front)

Tourists visiting Tower Bridge in London today also faced strong gusts as stormy weather blew through London this afternoon

Pedestrians in Blackpool fought against the strong wind today as the remains of Hurricane Gonzalo caused gusts of up to 108mph

Visitors to the promenade in Blackpool fought against strong winds, but some were able to capture images of waves crashing ashore

Winds in the Derbyshire Peak District were strong enough to force a waterfall along the river Kinder to flow back uphill

Lull in the storm: A rainbow is pictured over Blackpool pier during a brief break in the weather which has beaten the coastline today

A man gets a little too close for comfort as sea sprays leaps off the harbour wall in Portstewart, Northern Ireland

Seawater rushes over the Giant's Causeway in Northern Island as a man in a hi vis vest looks on this afternoon

In the fatal accident, Merseyside Police say there were no other vehicles involved in the crash but are investigating and say it is too early to speculate on what caused the accident. Despite the poor conditions at the time of the crash, the police do not believe the incident is weather-related.

Two children were also taken to hospital after heavy concrete breeze blocks fell from the roof of an infants' school and crashed through the ceiling of their classroom.

Meanwhile a 21-year-old in Cambridgeshire was treated for shock after his car ploughed through a metal fence and into a river following a collision with a lorry. The accident happened at Sixteen Foot Bank, near March, at 10.40 this morning.

CHILDREN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER SCHOOL ACCIDENT 

Two five-year-old children are in hospital tonight after heavy concrete breeze blocks crashed through the ceiling of their classroom.

The two injured children suffered head injuries after being struck by the bricks during a lesson at Oatlands Primary School as the force of Hurricane Gonzalo was felt across the country.

It was understood that builders were carrying out work at the school in Weybridge, Surrey, at the time of the accident.

Police visited Oatlands Primary School after two children were injured when breeze blocks fell through a classroom ceiling

Police, paramedics and firefighters raced to the school after receiving reports that a number of children had been hit by at least five falling breeze blocks just before 1.30pm.

The school, which has around 300 pupils aged four to seven years, was evacuated after the incident.

Today a piece of black tarpaulin could be seen covering a section of the roof where tiles were missing.

A spokesman for the South East Coast Ambulance Service said controllers sent a paramedic car and two ambulances to the school in Weybridge.

The two children, who were hit by the concrete blocks, were understood to have remained conscious throughout the incident.

A woman who answered the school's phone today said 'no comment' when asked about the incident.

A spokesman for Surrey County Council confirmed that the authority was aware of an incident at the school and said it had sent an engineer to the scene.

It is not known whether the weather conditions were to blame for the accident just before 1.30am. 

The injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Elsewhere today high winds and heavy rain brought delays on rails, roads, and caused Heathrow to cancel 10 per cent of flights.

The disruption has hit the 20 biggest airlines serving the west London airport, with 110 flights cancelled as poor weather reduced the number of planes allowed to land.

A flood warning has been issued for part of the Norfolk coast as hundreds of homes in Scotland, Wales and Cornwall were left without power.

Rail commuters experienced disruption across the south this morning as Southeastern Trains and South West Trains warned of part-cancellations and delays of around ten minutes blaming 'poor rail conditions' and 'poor track adhesion'.

On the roads, there was heavy traffic on most motorways and A roads across the UK, while a section of the A1(M) in Cambridgeshire was closed due to an overturned lorry. 

A Heathrow spokesman said: 'Please check your flight status with your airline before coming to the airport and leave extra time for your journey to and from the airport.' 

Rain is predicted throughout the UK this evening, with heavy showers in the north, as ex-Hurricane Gonzalo brings more bad weather

Blackpool sea front today after heavy rains, strong winds, and huge waves all washed ashore in the wake of Hurricane Gonzalo

Walkers at Newhaven stopped briefly to admire the view as huge waves crashed against the harbour today after the tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo blew ashore

A child gets a soaking after waves poured over the sea front in Blackpool today after the remains of Hurricane Gonzalo hit the UK

Tourists at Blackpool pleasure beach took pictures of the rough seas today as they struggled against high winds

Huge waves were also spotted pounding the beach next to Brighton Pier, though winds are expected to die away this afternoon

A KLM flight lands on a soaked runway at Manchester Airport earlier this morning as rainfall was predicted to top one and a half inches in some places

A plane at Manchester Airport makes a wet landing this morning after Hurricane Gonzalo brought heavy rain and high winds to the UK

Blown off course: A plane at Manchester Airport sways in the wind as it lands at a rain-soaked Manchester Airport this morning

The coast also took a battering as high waves swept along by strong wind hit the lighthouse at Newhaven harbour, East sussex

Northern Trains have reported delays of up to 20 minutes this evening after violent weather battered the UK today (pictured)

British Airways, which has already cancelled flights between Amsterdam and London, added: 'Much of the UK and Northern Europe will experience high winds and heavy rain on Tuesday as a result of the tail-end of Hurricane Gonzalo.  

Tons of metal scaffolding has collapsed in the gales, crashing down on In Berkshire tons of metal scaffolding collapsed in high winds, crushig the roof of a van. 

Shocked residents emerged from their homes on hearing the 'explosion' to find the scaffolding had crushed and dented vehicles on the A4 at Hungerford. It is not yet known whether anyone was injured. 

Thames Valley Police said the A4 - which runs between Newbury and Bath - is closed completely at Hungerford 'for the foreseeable future'. Contractors are being called to start the task of sifting the scaffolding which was attached to a building undergoing repair.

On the railways, signalling problems led to delays to all routes through Sydenham in south east London. This affected passengers travelling with the London Overground, Southern and Thameslink train companies.

To add to passengers' difficulties, a broken-down freight train led to delays between Crewe and Shrewsbury, while an obstruction on the line near Little Sutton in Cheshire caused hold-ups between Ellesmere Port and Hooton. 

Gusts of 108mph have already been recorded in Malin Head, Northern Ireland this morning, while winds have also hit 60mph in St Bees Head, Cumbria.

The strongest winds this morning have been around the Cairngorms in Scotland as speeds topped 108mph. The heaviest rainfall has been in Ross and Cromarty, in the Scottish Highlands, where one and a half inches of rain fell.

Blowing a gale: Gusts of up to 108mph were recorded in Scotland today, with winds in excess of 40mph for most of the UK

Whitehaven Harbour lighthouse is hit by a wave as ex-Hurricane Gonzalo thrashed the Cumbrian coast today

Cars are covered with sea spray along a coastal road in Blackpool after high winds whipped up huge waves

A bus makes it way through sea foam blown ashore by Hurricane Gonzalo which devastated the island of Bermuda this weekend

A boat bobs in the waves as a huge swell crashes up against Ballantrae harbour wall in Scotaland today

One foolhardy walker ventured out on to this rocky outcrop along the Cumbrian coast today as waves crashed into the shore

Visitors to Blackpool struggled to stay on their feet today as they captured pictures of Hurricane Gonzalo as it passed over the UK

Large waves hit the seafront at Blackpool, as the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo blew into Britain, causing rush-hour travel misery

Commuters battled their way through delays on trains and roads this morning while pedestrians struggled through wind and heavy rain 

The sun was out in London this afternoon though storm clouds hovered overhead as more heavy rain is predicted this afternoon

Parts of Gwynedd, Perthshire, Cumbria, and Lancashire also saw heavy rain, with more than an inch falling in each location. The average for the whole of October is 3.5inches.

Detailing its cancellations this morning, British Airways said it 'has agreed with a request from Heathrow Airport and National Air Traffic Services (Nats) to reduce its schedule at Heathrow as there will be a lower number of aircraft allowed to land each hour for safety reasons.'

'Other airports have also reduced the number of aircraft they are able to handle,' they added.

'We are sorry that a number of short-haul and domestic flights have been cancelled and others may experience delays as a result of the poor weather. We are working as hard as we can to mitigate any disruption.' 

Waves come over the wall at Girvan harbour. Scotland saw some of the worst weather this morning, with winds up to 70mph

A ship approaches Perch Rock lighthouse as it enters the mouth of the River Mersey amid high seas and strong winds this morning

A photographer gets his feet wet near Perch Rock lighthouse during this morning's storm at New Brighton near Liverpool

The Elizabth G, a sightseeing boat, was run aground in Oban, Scotland, today as high winds and rough seas battered the UK coast

A photographer captures a shot as the pier in Aberystwyth, Wales, is drenched by a huge wave whipped up by high winds

While commuters were the worst affected this morning, pets also suffered - as Bailey the Shih-tzu is pictured struggling in the wind

Bad fur day: Bailey the Shih-tzu feeling the power of ex-Hurricane Gonzalo while taking a walk along the Cumbrian coast today

A car crashed into the river at Sixteen Foot Bank, Cambridgeshire, this morning after hitting a lorry and going through metal barriers

An overturned lorry is pictured being righted after an accident on the A1(M) near Cambridge this morning which caused tailbacks

On the roads he A87 Skye Bridge and the A898 Erskine Bridge in Scotland were closed to high-sided vehicles, while heavy rain led to poor visibility on the A90 south of Aberdeen, and the Forth Road Bridge.

In London, Southwark Street has been closed both directions between Southwark Bridge Road and Great Guildford Street due to a fallen tree.

Meanwhile Virgin Trains said that heavy rain may affect services today with a spokesman urging travellers to check before setting off.

Southeastern Trains is reporting delays and part-cancellations on seven services so far this morning due to 'poor rail conditions', and has advised passengers to check its website before travelling. 

In Aberystwyth, Wales, sea spray is whipped across the harbour front as high winds are forecast to batter the UK today

Motorists around Birmingham this morning found themselves stuck in traffic jams as rain and wind from the remains of Hurricane Gonzalo caused delays across the country

A ferry coming into Liverpool this morning was battered by high seas as some boat services were cancelled in Falmouth, Cornwall

Porthcawl lighthouse is pictured above stormy seas as Hurricane Gonzalo continues to batter the British coast

A tanker being buffeted by rough seas near Crosby in Merseyside as high winds whipped up large waves along the British coast

People take photographs of heavy seas in front of New Brighton lighthouse near Liverpool in northern England

A woman battles her way through Regent's Park, in central London, this morning as heavy rain fell, while a brief respite this afternoon saw a rainbow come out

Southwest Trains has warned travellers of delays of up to ten minutes because of 'poor rail adhesion', despite the fact that a fleet of 'leaf-busting trains' were in action this morning to prevent disruption.

Forecasters also warned there will be 'significant disruptions' to road travel with commuters told the winds could bring trees down. 

The warnings came after the Met Office issued a yellow warning for most of the country as the gale force winds tore across the UK from the storm which left a trail of destruction in Bermuda. 

In Hayle, Cornwall, more than 8,000 residents were left without power this morning as lines were brought down. Western Power Distribution said it expected to have the lights and heating back by 9am.

A plane comes in to land at Heathrow today battling strong winds, though these are expected to die away this afternoon

Passengers stranded at Heathrow Airport watch weather reports as they wait for news on their flights after 110 were cancelled

Gusts: Disruption hit the 20 biggest airlines serving Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport this morning as high winds swept Britain

More than 100 flights were cancelled at Heathrow today as high winds limited the number of aircraft that can land and take off safely

A departures board shows outgoing flights cancelled at Heathrow this morning as one passenger digs in for a long wait (right)

Even pedestrians were not safe from the wind this morning as a woman struggles with her umbrella while making her way into work

Around 350 homes in south and mid-Wales are without power, whil up to 100 homes in Moffat, Scotland, are also without electricity. 

Some ferries out of Falmouth, Cornwall, were also cancelled due to the high winds this morning, while this afternoon it was reported that a Stena Line ferry in Belfast broke free of its moorings and had to be pulled back into place by three tugboats.

There was also rush hour chaos in Hampshire after a crash on the storm-lashed M3 motorway brought traffic to a standstill at 7am.

Queues two miles long quickly built up in both directions after the accident involving two vehicles at Chandler’s Ford between junction 14, the M27 turn-off, and junction 13, the A335 junction.

Police said driving conditions were ‘tricky’ because of rain and strong side winds and advised motorists to slow down. It’s not yet known how many people have been hurt. The gales also brought a tree down in the New Forest, blocking the Brockenhurst to Burley road.

This will be followed by heavy rain in places with experts predicting two weeks of rainfall in just 24 hours.

A couple and their pet dog brave the wet and windy conditions in Western Super Mare today as travellers faced disruption elsewhere

In a jam: Forecasters warned drivers to expect delays as winds are likely to bring down trees across the country today

Windswept: Commuters in central London use umbrellas to defend themselves against the rain earlier this morning

Commuters into London were facing delays of up to ten minutes and part-cancellations as South West Trains and Southeastern trains blamed 'poor rail conditions' and 'poor track adhesion' for the disruption

Commuters in the south were faced with disruption this morning as Southeaster Trains and South West Trains both reported part-cancellations and delays of up to 10 minutes

This morning the Environment Agency had eight flood alerts out across the whole of the North, and most of the South East, warning people to prepare for a chance of flooding.

A flood warning has now been issued for part of the Norfolk coastline near Walcott, meaning residents are advised to take immediate action.

Sean Penston, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said: 'There will be strengthening winds and rain over Ireland in the middle of the evening as the storm comes in from the Atlantic.

'It will reach north-western parts of Britain late in the evening, with gusts up to 45mph over north-western parts of Scotland by midnight, but these will increase to gusts up to 75mph during the night.

'The area of rainy, windy weather will then move eastwards, varying in intensity across the UK, with the strongest gusts on the coasts.

'We can expect gusts up to 65mph in the north west tomorrow morning, and up to 50mph in central and eastern parts of England in the afternoon.'

Liverpool was also lashed by rain this morning as high winds roared down the Mersey causing misery for pedestrians

Water is whipped over the side of the Mersey in Liverpool this morning as one man shields himself against the wet weather

A man walks along the sea front in Aberystwyth, Wales, where winds of more than 50mph are expected today

Brighton Marina takes a battering this morning as the remains of Hurricane Gonzalo bring high winds and waves to Britain

Nicola Maxey, from the Met Office, said: 'The winds may affect commuters in rush hour tomorrow morning so people should allow extra time for driving and those driving high-sided vehicles should be cautious.

'We may see some tree damage and there will be rain across most places in the early hours of the morning.

'Fallen leaves impeding drainage increases the risk of surface water affecting roads, while some damage to trees is possible, given that many are still in full leaf.'

Thar she blows: A cargo boat is buffeted by waves and nearly lost from view in the heavy rain near Liverpool today

Wet and wild: A brave photographer in Liverpool braved the dreadful weather to capture some pictures of Hurricane Gonzalo

Forecaster, Simon Partridge, added: 'Expect winds to increase and rain in the West of around 10mm on average south of the M4. North of there you'll be looking at 20mm, with up to 40mm on high ground.' 

The average rainfall for the whole of October is typically around 90mm. 

Meanwhile temperatures yesterday hit a 'remarkable' 20 degrees in west London with parts of the South East feeling warmer than Mykonos in Greece.

The strong winds will start to ease on Wednesday, leaving a fairly dry and blustery day for many places.

The more settled weather will continue on Thursday and Friday with a mix of sun and occasional showers and temperatures closer to average for October.

Last week the Atlantic island chain of Bermuda felt the full wrath of Hurricane Gonzalo as it lashed the island with 110mph winds, causing flooding, blackouts and widespread damage.

The Elizabeth usually provides sightseeing and wildlife trips around the Hebrides but not today as it is seen aground in Oban Bay

High winds have created huge waves near Newhaven, East Sussex, this morning as travel chaos was predicted for commuters

A dare-devil photographer captures images of Perch Rock lighthouse near New Brighton, Liverpool, this morning

As Hurricane Gonzalo blew ashore this morning high winds whipped up waves and sent them crashing against the Blackpool sea front

It was the strongest storm to sweep the territory in a decade.

Navy vessel HMS Argyll arrived in the territory on Saturday to assist with aerial reconnaissance and other tasks.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: 'Royal Navy personnel are trained to respond to situations such as this and HMS Argyll is well resourced and ready to provide assistance to the people of Bermuda.'

Meanwhile thousands of Britons holidaying in Tenerife have been caught in flash-flooding on the island.

Seven inches of rain fell in just 12 hours yesterday, with tourists warned to stay in their hotels as landslides and fast-flowing waters led to road closures.

As roads turned to rivers, cars were submerged in several feet of water and Tarmac was ripped from the roads by the force of the deluge.

One 56-year-old woman died after suffering a heart attack as she was swept along by flood water then became trapped under a parked car in Santa Cruz. 

This was the scene in Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan, this morning as airlines and rail companies warned of disruption due to poor weather

Couple pictured on Blackpool beach this morning as waves batter the pier ahead of the arrival of the remains of Hurricane Gonzalo

The remains of Hurricane Gonzalo, which battered Bermuda over the weekend, have arrived in the UK bringing high winds and waves to Aberystwyth in Wales