High winds bring death and destruction to Scotland

WINDS of up to 150mph swept across parts of Scotland yesterday, leaving one man dead, thousands of homes without power and bringing road, rail and ferry networks to a halt as the country was hit by an unseasonal blast of severe weather.

Felled power lines and trees blocked train tracks and major roads. Ferry operator Calmac cancelled more than half of its services in the islands, while others experienced serious delays.

Edinburgh Zoo and the city's Royal Botanic Garden - as well as a large number of National Trust properties - were on a long list of places and buildings forced to close due to the high winds, while commuters found their routes home blocked as the Forth and Tay road bridges closed to all traffic.

A man in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire died after a tree fell on his car yesterday afternoon. Firefighters spent several hours trying to free the 36-year-old, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

At the height of the storm around 50,000 properties across the country were left without power. Northern areas of Scotland were the worst hit, with 30,000 homes suffering power cuts due to falling trees and debris hitting power lines. Many properties in Inverness were without electricity for several hours.

And in the southern and central regions, a further 20,000 properties were without power at the peak of the winds.

Last night, there was further chaos after trains were cancelled and the main bus station in Edinburgh was closed. Waverley Station was also shut after debris fell on to the tracks, while the M9 was closed for a number of hours.

Transport minister Keith Brown called an emergency meeting of the Scottish Government's resilience team.

The highest wind speed was recorded in the Cairngorms, but gales were reported in built-up areas in the Central Belt. Gusts reached 84mph on Edinburgh's Blackford Hill and 69mph in Bishopton, Renfrewshire.

ScotRail cancelled almost all of its services yesterday afternoon, while all other major train operators announced severe delays. During rush hour last night, just four train routes were still in operation in Scotland.

• 'This kind of pattern is not normal for this time of year'

"Due to extreme weather conditions, with winds in excess of 80mph damaging our infrastructure and blowing trees and other debris on to the tracks, train services on many routes in Scotland have had to be suspended," said a spokesman for the company.

Steven Keates, a forecaster for the Met Office, said the wind was likely to abate today, but could increase again tomorrow. "I have never seen wind like it," he said. "In February or October, yes - but not in mid-May."

The airline industry faced a double blow of flight cancellations due to storms in addition to disruption caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

"High winds are causing delays and cancellations," said a spokesman for Edinburgh Airport, which suffered minor damage to its roof. "Passengers should contact airlines for information."

By yesterday evening, Scotland's major railway stations were crammed with commuters facing lengthy delays.

Deryck Somerville, who was trying to return to North Berwick from Edinburgh's Waverley Station, criticised authorities for a lack of information. "This is total chaos," he said. "I'm trying to club together to get a taxi."

Brian Cooper, who was attempting to return home to Stirling, added: "I am told there might be buses, but so far no-one has given me any information on when the trains might run again. I have no idea how I will get home."

Drivers, cyclists and even pedestrians living in Fife were told they would not be allowed to cross the Forth Road Bridge and would have to travel via the Kincardine Bridge - where traffic jams came to a near standstill as thousands of motorists seeking alternative routes across the Forth were diverted.

It was expected that the Forth Road Bridge was likely to remain closed until midnight last night.

In Glasgow, queues formed out of the door at the Buchanan Street bus station as commuters tried to find a way home.

Natasha Lobley, who works in the city, but lives in Edinburgh, queued for a bus for more than two hours. "When I got here, there were hundreds of people," she said. "They seem to be putting on extra buses so the queue is moving. I just hope the M8 is still open by the time I get on one."

Many major roads across Scotland were closed at various times. On the A91 in Milnathort, a man and a woman were trapped in their car after a branch fell on them yesterday morning. The pair escaped serious injury, although the man, aged 48, suffered a broken wrist and ribs. Other motorists - including two in Bruntsfield and Leith, Edinburgh - had a lucky escape when their vehicles were crushed by falling branches. In Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, a police station and four police cars were damaged when a tree fell on them.

Glasow city council said last night that Bellrock Nursery and Cranhill and Mount Vernon primaries would all close today.