Three drivers die as Storm Bert batters UK

Three men have died on UK roads in separate incidents as Storm Bert continues to hit the country.

A tree fell onto a car on the A34 southbound near Winchester this morning, killing a man who was driving a black Mercedes.

Hampshire Police is investigating the incident.

Meanwhile in West Yorkshire, a 34-year-old man from Bradford was killed after a car collided with a wall in Shipley. Police were called at 12.59am and the man was pronounced dead at the scene

Police continue to investigate the cause, but it is understood the road was not icy at the time of the incident.

This evening, Northamptonshire Police has confirmed that a man, in his 40s, died in a crash on the A45 near Flore at around 8.20am.

A silver Toyota Corolla and a dark grey Hyundai collided with the driver of the Toyota being pronounced dead at the scene.

The weather has caused chaos across the UK, with sports events cancelled, flights diverted and roads closed due to fallen trees and treacherous driving conditions.

Winds in excess of 70mph have been recorded and as many as 4,000 homes have been left without power as weather experts forecast that the worse is still to come.

Jason Kelly is a Met Office Chief Meteorologist and said: “Storm Bert starts to arrive overnight on Friday and into Saturday, initially over Northern Ireland. As we go through the first part of Saturday morning, it will start to show its hand across Scotland, north Wales and northern England, with the potential for some heavy snowfall, especially over higher ground. Warnings are in place, including an amber warning for snow and ice for parts of Scotland.”

Mr Kelly said: “Heavy rainfall will affect much of the UK this weekend. Rain is expected to develop during Saturday morning across southwest and southern England, becoming particularly heavy and persistent overnight and into Sunday.

“Accumulations of 50-75 mm are expected to fall fairly widely during this time. There is a chance that some places over Dartmoor for example, could see 100-150 mm. In addition, rapid melting of lying snow over the weekend may bring flooding for some.”

The RAC has urged motorists to remain cautious when driving, taken particular care on exposed roads and when driving over puddles concealing the condition of the road surface.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “As the heavy rain and winds from Storm Bert replace snow and ice in many parts of the country, drivers need to be aware of the rapidly changing conditions on the roads.

“We encourage motorists to stick to major roads where possible and take extra care in the worst-affected areas.

“Those who have to drive should stay tuned to weather forecasts and allow plenty of time to de-ice and de-mist your vehicle, as it’s dangerous and illegal to drive looking out of a small gap in a frozen windscreen.”

This morning, there was chaos at Newcastle airport with flights diverted to Edinburgh and Belfast as the airport’s staff attempted to minimise disruption from snow.

The M48 Severn Bridge in Gloucestershire was closed because of strong winds, and the A66 in County Durham was closed both ways between the A67 and A645 due to snow.

National Highways and Met Office warnings remain in place across Saturday and into Sunday, with people encouraged to check advice from the organisations relating tot heir areas.

The Met Office warn that “Storm Bert is quite slow moving and only really clears from Monday. The start of the week will continue to be unsettled, with strong winds and showers in the forecast. Although temperatures will be around average for most places, strong winds mean it will feel rather cold.”