Storm Frank batters UK; 5,500 homes left without power in North Scotland

• Posted on December 30, 2015
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Heavy rain and gales are hitting Northern Ireland and Scotland as Storm Frank brings fears of further flooding.

There are four severe flood warnings, indicating danger to life – three in Croston, Lancashire, which is braced for the second flood in a week.

A further 47 flood warnings, requiring immediate action, are in force in England and Wales and more than 60 in place in Scotland.

About 5,500 homes have been left without power in the north of Scotland.

In Northern Ireland, homes also experienced power cuts, air passengers were delayed and fallen trees caused problems on the roads.

Note: the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency display their flood alert data differently. While the Environment Agency highlights individual rivers only, in Scotland the entire region is coloured to indicate the level of alert. This map and flood alert data are supplied to the BBC by third parties. The BBC is not responsible for its accuracy and you use it at your own risk.

In Croston, an RAF Chinook helicopter delivered 400 tonnes of sandbags on Tuesday in a bid to try to shore up the nearby River Douglas.

Villagers, already hit by floods on Boxing Day, are now preparing for the storm to hit them around mid-morning.

Mark Cowley, vice chairman of the parish council, said: “Everybody’s worried. They’re still shell-shocked from what happened on Boxing Day.”

The fourth severe weather warning was issued in response to the collapse of the Tadcaster Bridge which caused a nearby gas pipe to rupture.

People watched the storm-battered masonry crumble into the swollen river, before running away as a wave headed towards the bank and a strong smell of gas leaked from exposed pipes.

Homes around the 18th century stone bridge, over the River Wharfe, were evacuated by soldiers.

An Environment Agency spokesman warned “significant flooding” was expected in the area, adding: “The situation is serious and there is a significant risk to life.”

-BBC