Storm Frank: Power cuts in the West Midlands as firefighters ride to the rescue of York flood victims
Around 1,500 homes across the Midlands thought to have been affected by power cuts as Storm Frank battered the region.
Around 50 homes in the Tipton area were without power and another 40 in Stourbridge and Kinver.
The winds were so strong that the footbridge at the Bullring, between Selfridge's and the Moor Street car park, had to be closed.
And Wightwick Manor had to shut but bosses said they hoped to open as normal tomorrow.
The A458 Bridgnorth Road, near Stourton, was also shut after strong winds brought down power lines. The road was closed between Stourbridge Rugby Club and the Living Springs Family Centre.
A fallen tree also blocked Greenfield Road, in Fordhouses, Wolverhampton.
Meanwhile, West Midlands firefighters have been riding to the rescue in the north of England, where gales and further heavy rain were expected in the already flood-ravaged region today.
Footage shows a group of people said to have been stranded at flats since Boxing Day being picked up by a West Midlands Fire Service boat and taken down a flooded street to safety.
The team, based at Bickenhill, in Solihull, have been on duty around the clock since arriving on Boxing Day.
Wolverhampton station commander Simon Hardiman was involved in the rescue of a disabled pensioner from a care home in the centre of York on Sunday night
Mr Hardiman insists that it's been a festive period that will live long in the memory, but he and his West Midlands Fire and Rescue team have enjoyed lending their support to the cause. Mr Hardiman said: "The West Midlands team has been involved in 15 rescues in total, it's been very busy.
Flood defences remain in place as people once again brace themselves for bad weather as the latest winter storm batters the Midlands.
Environment Agency workers continue to monitor rising river levels, including the River Severn at Bewdley, in the wake of further heavy rain.
Storm Frank was sweeping into the UK from the Atlantic today bringing gales and downpours spelling misery for those affected by floods over Christmas.
It came after claims of looters hitting flood-hit businesses and homes. There are already nine severe flood warnings – meaning a 'danger to life' – in England and Wales, mostly centred on York which was flooded on Boxing Day. And a flood alert remained in place for the River Severn through Shropshire and Worcestershire
Barriers remain in place on Severnside in Bewdley, with water levels expected to peak at 18.7ft on stretches of the river in Worcester.
"We've been here since Boxing Day and have been all over the North of England carrying out our work."
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Environment Agency (EA) Sir Philip Dilley was due to visit flood victims today after he returned from a Christmas holiday to Barbados amid criticism at the timing of his break during some of the worst storms in decades.
Three severe flood warnings are in place in Croston, Lancashire, with residents being urged to pack up and leave without delay, while across England and Wales more than 40 flood warnings and more than 80 lower level flood alerts are in force.
About 5,500 homes are without power in Scotland as gale-force winds and heavy rain batter the country, while more than 2,000 homes in Northern Ireland suffered overnight blackouts as Frank swept in from the Atlantic.
More than 60 flood warnings and 14 alerts have also been issued north of the border, while a red weather warning was issued overnight for the Isle of Man with up to 100mm (4ins) of rain expected on high ground.
Powerful winds have already disrupted flights in and out of Belfast International Airport where planes were held or diverted among gusts of up to 55 knots, or about 63 mph.
Lisa Pinney of the EA said river levels had been falling but the renewed rainfall increased the risk of fresh flooding in already saturated areas like Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire.
She added that persistent rainfall in Wales meant there was also now a chance of flooding in the west and south west of England.
Ms Pinney, a flood manager, said: "Overnight we've had some rain but more wind.
"We're expecting more rain today and into the late afternoon, so we're encouraging people to be aware.
"Based on the forecast we've had, we're not expecting to see scenes like we've had over the past few days and not see flood defence over-topping, for example.
"But we're aware the ground across the north of England is absol