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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Kieren Williams

Storm Franklin floods bring chaos to UK as thousands of homes left without power

Storm Franklin has battered the UK last night into this morning with torrential rain, winds of almost 90mph and flooding across large swathes of the country.

Public transport has been thrown into chaos with some providers even advising Brits simply “do not travel”.

Many of those services which weren’t preemptively cancelled have been by blocked or flooded tracks and roads.

As well as the yellow weather warning which remains across the UK until midday today, more than 450 flood warnings and alerts were issued.

This included two severe flood warnings where there was a risk to life on the River Mersey in East Didsbury and at West Didsbury and Northenden.

Rain was so bad overnight, that some parts of Manchester began evacuating people, with over 400 homes at risk as the River Mersey burst its banks.

Have you been hammered by Storm Franklin? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk

An aerial view of Withington Golf Club in Manchester, flooded after the River Mersey burst its banks (James Speakman/Mercury Press)

Shortly after 5am this morning, Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council said the “process of evacuation was already underway.

“We’re working closely with the police, fire service and the Environment Agency to protect residents living in the areas where we have severe flood warnings.

"The process of evacuation is already under way in order to protect as many people as possible given the forecast of more heavy rain throughout the day.”

A stranded vehicle in flood water in Belper, Derbyshire as Britons deal with the third storm in a week (PA)

Manchester and Derbyshire were some of the areas worst affected by the flooding as local rivers burst their banks and streets were flooded.

Matlock, Derbyshire, was described as having had its streets in the town centre turned into "a river".

Such was the chaos caused on our roads and rail lines that train providers took the drastic action over advising Brits against using them, with some going as far as telling Brits to simply not travel today.

Council workers clear the triangle tree in Bude, Cornwall after it was brought down in recent stormy weather (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)

CrossCounty Trains said: “We are strongly recommending not to travel today.

“Storms over the past week will have tested the infrastructure and with Storm Franklin today, we will have severe disruption across our network.”

Meanwhile, National Rail asked customers to “avoid travel if possible” on Monday and South Western Railway issued a do not travel message after “a series of further incidents caused by high winds on Sunday evening”.

The scene in Bolton where a wall fell on a car and it’s four occupants, the family were fine but said they were left "traumatised" (Phil Taylor / SWNS)

National Rail said the first services on most routes were cancelled, while there is a reduced timetable for Monday, alternative travel is unavailable and further disruption is expected.

Major flooding across parts of Yorkshire has blocked multiple lines and shuttered South Yorkshire's Rotherham Central railway station until Tuesday.

Rail operator TransPennine Express told customers on Twitter : "Due to a river flooding the railway at Mexborough, trains are currently unable to operate between Doncaster, Meadowhall and Sheffield. All lines are blocked.

A car is submerged in flood water on Barnsdale Road, Castleford (James Heaton/News Images)

In the capital, where wind gusts are up to around 40mph, London Overground services are cancelled or reduced.

Roads across the country have been shut thanks to the high winds and torrential rain, whether because of debris like trees knocked over, or flooding carriageways.

An Amber Warning for wind on Northern Ireland expired at 7am this morning and winds will peak during rush hour according to to Greg Dewhurst, senior meteorologist at the Met Office.

Towns along the Derwent Valley, Derbyshire lie under water (Rod Kirkpatrick/F Stop Press)

He added that conditions will noticeably ease around lunchtime.

The heavy showers that lashed northern England and Northern Ireland are set to move south-east he added and around midday, the Met Office removed a number of flood warnings.

Storm Franklin's highest gust of 87mph was recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight on Sunday evening, followed by current gusts of 79mph on a mountaintop in Wales.

The Hurt Arms pub is surrounded by flood water in Belper, Derbyshire (PA)

"It's still pretty strong out there and it will continue to be strong over the next few hours," Mr Dewhurst told the PA news agency.

Thousands of homes in the UK are still without power due to Storm Eunice, and Storm Franklin is complicating recovery efforts.

This came after huge waves were seen crashing on to coastal areas, homes were destroyed by strong winds, and emergency services deployed flood defences along swelling riverbanks on Sunday.

Waves crash against a lighthouse during Storm Franklin in Porthcawl, Wales (REUTERS)

Colossal waves have been captured engulfing Newhaven lighthouse in West Quay, East Sussex, and Porthcawl Lighthouse in Bridgend, Wales.

The River Don burst its banks in the Sprotbrough area of Doncaster in South Yorkshire on Sunday night, and police have warned people to stay away from dangerous "fast-flowing" water.

South Yorkshire Police said: "We ask people to remain away from the area of Sprotbrough Falls and Sprotbrough Lock in Doncaster, after the River Don burst its banks in this location earlier this evening.

A pedestrian sign on a footpath near the River Severn in Worcester (Anita Maric / SWNS)
Rotherham central train station (National Rail / SWNS)

"Many of the footpaths in this area are presently under water.

"The water is fast-flowing and poses a risk to people attempting to wade through it.

"Members of the public are being asked to remain away from the area at this time for their own safety. Thank you."

Central Sheffield's flood defences appear to have held, despite fears as the River Don raged through the city on Sunday night.

Last week marked the first time three named storms have been recorded within seven days since the storm-naming system began in 2015, with Dudley, Eunice and Franklin.

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