Warnings as gales batter region

Severe weather warnings remain in place for parts of the West Midlands today after gales swept through the region. Gusts of up to 75 mph are predicted until lunchtime but strong winds were expected to affect the area all day.

Commuters were left stranded on platforms at Wolverhampton and outlying stations when a speed limit of 50mph was implemented by Network Rail, causing delays of up to an hour. The restriction, which was placed on all trains travelling north of Rugby, was lifted at 9am.

But services across the network were expected to be affected for most of the day clearing the backlog.

Virgin Rail withdrew part of its service to London, running just one train an hour, instead of two, from Birmingham because of the high winds although the Wolverhampton to Euston service was unaffected.

The gale force winds forced this afternoon's meeting at the Cheltenham Festival to be abandoned.

Officials made the startling announcement after another morning of intense gusts at Prestbury Park, which threatened to damage marquees used for corporate hospitality.

There was motorway mayhem when the M6 between junctions 19 and 21 at Cheshire was shut in both directions after three lorries overturned at 4am.

No-one was injured but all three drivers were left very shaken.

It was expected the section of motorway would stay closed to high-sided vehicles all day as winds continued to cause problems.

Across Lancashire, police reported five trees had been blown over, a garage had collapsed at a house in Preston and some scaffolding had collapsed in Blackpool.

A tree fell on to the hard shoulder near Junction 10 of the M6 this morning but did not cause any lane closures.

Elsewhere a lamp post blew over on the M5 at Junction 6, near Worcester, overnight but was removed before traffic was affected.

Highways Agency spokeswoman Jo Carroll warned drivers in the Midlands to make sure they had plenty of fuel in their vehicle before they travel in case of delays.

Vicky McMillan, of London Midland trains, said journeys from Wolverhampton to Crewe would experience delays of up to 50 minutes for most of the day.

A flood watch alert was still in place on the Severn Estuary and the Met Office has a weather warning in place in parts of Shropshire and Staffordshire.