Storm damage hits Christmas travel

24 December 2013 Last updated at 07:01 GMT

N Ireland and Scotland braced for Christmas Eve storms

BBC weather forecaster Chris Fawkes says more bad weather is on the way and explains the likely impact of the powerful atmospheric jet stream

Scotland and Northern Ireland are preparing to bear the brunt of the latest storms to hit the UK, amid continuing travel disruption.

Two people died in Monday's storms - a man in Cumbria and a woman in Gwynedd.

Homes have been damaged and many are without power in southern England and road, sea and air travel is affected.

In Dorset, about 25 people trapped in cars by flood water have been rescued by fire crews, Dorset Fire Control said.

High winds are expected in northern and western Scotland and there are warnings of possible damage to the electricity network in Northern Ireland.

As many prepare to travel home for Christmas, there is disruption to many rail services:

Ferry passenger Catriona Koris: "We've had injured people air-lifted to safety"

• Southern services are suspended until further notice because of "extreme disruption" to the network
• South West Trains says no trains will run before 10:00 GMT to allow lines to be checked
• East Coast trains is planning to run its Christmas Eve timetable as published
• Virgin says it expects delays and disruption to its services
• First Great Western services may be affected as a result of Monday's disruption
• The Cardiff Valleys, Cambrian Mainline and Birmingham International/New Street routes of Arriva Trains Wales are affected
• The Gatwick Express is not running

The severe weather is causing disruption at some airports. At Gatwick, power problems at the north terminal are causing issues with manual check-in.

Many ferry services are also still disrupted.

Umar Mansour and his family spent the night in their car at the Port of Dover, waiting to sail to France.

"It's raining, it's windy, it is quite tough out here. Some people have got their own blankets and they've started setting up their own bedding in the food court area of the port," he said.

Ben Munday texted the BBC: "Still on P&O 8pm departure from Calais, anchored offshore, each wave causing bad aircraft-like turbulence."

Meanwhile, as many as 27,000 homes and businesses were left without electricity in southern England, Southern Electric said on Monday night, with 13,000 in and around Aldershot alone.

Others were without power in Oxford, Poole in Dorset, and Petersfield in Hampshire

Some 3,000 Western Power Distribution customers in Cornwall and a further 2,000 in other parts of the South West were left without electricity. Some 800 were still without power on Monday evening.

Property damage

Footage of storm the damage

The Met Office has amber severe weather warnings - meaning "be prepared" - for wind in Northern Ireland and north-west Scotland.

In Scotland, its warnings were upgraded to include the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the north-west Highlands, Argyll and Bute, Orkney and Shetland.

Dozens of flood warnings and alerts have been issued by the authorities

Further disruption is expected for rail passengers on many routes

Strong winds caused the Eros Globe Christmas attraction in London to deflate

Northern Ireland is expected to face some of the stormiest weather in the UK, with gusts of up to 80mph possible.

Northern Ireland Electricity said northern and eastern coastal areas and exposed high ground were likely to be particularly affected.

Meanwhile, members of the public have contacted the BBC News website to describe widespread damage to property and disruption to fights.

Sam in Aldershot emailed the BBC: "So far, power out, garden and patio underwater, lost two fence panels and part of a brick wall. Water seeping through brickwork in the garage. Sounded earlier like a few roof tiles may have gone."

Umar in Southwark, south London, said: "Just assessed the damage to the garden and it's quite bleak. Fences all down and garden shed non-existent as for the roof of the shed, well it's nowhere to be seen."

Jackie from Sussex emailed to say she had experienced a "terrifying" aborted landing at Manchester Airport after being diverted from Gatwick.

Mike from Birmingham said: "On one of at least seven planes planes diverted from Gatwick to Liverpool. Apparently Stansted, Luton, Birmingham were all full. Waiting on tarmac for two hours now as they unload planes in order."

Train disruption

The Environment Agency has one severe flood warning - indicating danger to life - in place, for the Sea Life Centre and Preston Beach Road area of Lodmoor, Weymouth.

There are more than 150 flood warnings in place for England and Wales - signifying that flooding is "expected", and more than 270 flood alerts, where flooding is "possible".

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has about 25 flood warnings but no severe flood warnings.

Have you been affected by the storms? You can share your experiences, footage and photos with us using the form below.

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.

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Fresh wave of weather woe on the way

24 December 2013 Last updated at 03:46 GMT

N Ireland and Scotland braced for Christmas Eve storms

Storms have caused travel chaos and left thousands of people without electricity

Scotland and Northern Ireland are preparing to bear the brunt of the latest storms to hit the UK, following widespread damage and travel chaos.

Two people died in Monday's storms: a man in Cumbria and a woman in Gwynedd.

Homes have been damaged in southern England and there have been delays and diversions to many flights.

High winds are expected in northern and western Scotland and there are warnings of possible damage to the electricity network in Northern Ireland.

The Met Office has amber severe weather warnings - meaning "be prepared" - for wind in Northern Ireland and north-west Scotland.

In Scotland, its warnings were upgraded to include the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the north west Highlands, Argyll and Bute, Orkney and Shetland. These are due to come into force at 06:00 GMT.

Northern Ireland is expected to face some of the stormiest weather in the UK, with gusts of up to 80mph possible.

Northern Ireland Electricity said northern and eastern coastal areas and exposed high ground were likely to be particularly affected.

Have you been affected by the storms? You can share your experiences, footage and photos with us using the form below.

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.

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Police station gun attack reported

23 December 2013 Last updated at 23:25 GMT

Lisnaskea police station gun attack reported

There are reports of a gun attack on a police station in County Fermanagh.

Assembly member for the area Arlene Foster said Lisnaskea PSNI station had been attacked by automatic gunfire.

Justice Minister David Ford tweeted: "Those who tried to kill police officers in Lisnaskea are to be condemned. They have nothing positive to offer."

So far, there has been no confirmation of the attack from the PSNI.

However, the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, tweeted: "Officers escape death when dissident republicans attack Lisnaskea station with gunfire. Cowardly and futile. Terrorism will never prevail."

Two dead as severe weather hits UK

23 December 2013 Last updated at 22:51 GMT

Two die as severe weather hits UK Christmas getaway

The BBC's Jon Kay reports on disrupted travel as strong winds batter the UK

Two people have died as storms sweep across the UK.

A man's body was pulled from the River Rothay in Cumbria by rescuers searching for a man who had been seen falling in.

In Gwynedd, north-west Wales, a woman's body was found in a stream in full flow near her house.

The deaths come as gale-force winds and heavy rain hit the Christmas getaway for road, rail, air and sea passengers. Fallen overhead power lines left thousands without electricity.

'Excess of water'

Meanwhile, among those affected by the severe weather conditions:

• As many as 27,000 customers were left without electricity in southern England, Southern Electric said, with 13,000 in and around Aldershot alone. Others were without power in Oxford; Poole in Dorset; and Petersfield in Hampshire
• Some 3,000 Western Power Distribution customers in Cornwall and a further 2,000 in other parts of the South West were left without electricity; by Monday evening some 800 were still without power.
• The Environment Agency issued a "severe" flood warning - meaning "danger to life" - in Weymouth, Dorset, where the public were advised to avoid the "extremely dangerous" Preston Beach area.
• Gusts of 87mph were recorded at Capel Curig in Conwy, North Wales, and disruption has been caused across Wales
• Northern Ireland will face some of the worst weather in the UK on Christmas Eve, with warnings of winds of up to 90mph
• UK high streets reported a 6% fall in shopper numbers on last year

Flood alerts have been issued for much of the UK. The River Ouse in York caused flooding in nearby streets

In Lyme Regis and south-west England, spells of heavy rain are forecast to continue overnight and into Christmas Eve

There were dramatic scenes in the Cornish village of Mousehole as thousands across the region were left without power

The Environment Agency said there was a medium risk of flooding in Kent where waves battered the Dover coast

The rivers in Cumbria were "suffering an excess of water" because of the rain, Inspector Chris Wright of Cumbria Police said.

The search of the River Rothay began when a member of the public saw someone fall into the water at 14.25 GMT, and the man's body was found about an hour later. He has not yet been identified.

"It would be fair to say that the river in its current state did not assist the rescue operation. It was fast flowing, and a lot more water than normal, so yes it's fair to say that the weather contributed to the problem," said Insp Wright.

In a separate incident, police in Bethesda, Gwynedd, are investigating the death of a woman whose body was recovered in water 50m from her house. It was thought the woman had left her house to check a water supply.

"It's a small stream that runs off the mountain - about half a metre wide and three-quarters of a metre deep - but it was in full flow," Paul Smith from the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team told BBC Wales.

'Serious storm'

The Met Office has amber "be prepared" alerts for rain in Wales, south-west England and London and south-east England for Monday evening and Christmas Eve morning.

And it has amber warnings for wind for parts of the UK on Christmas Eve, including Northern Ireland, the east of England, London and the South East, and north-west Scotland.

BBC forecaster Peter Gibbs warned winds of 80mph would hit the south coast on Tuesday, while 70mph gusts were expected inland.

He said the worst weather on Tuesday would be in Scotland and Northern Ireland while more bad weather was on the way for Thursday and Friday.

The BBC's Helen Fawkes spoke to Robin Gisby, from Network Rail, at Euston station

"People might get there for Christmas, but they might have problems getting back later in the week," he added.

By Monday evening the wind had brought down more than 80 trees on train lines, Network Rail said, while mud-slides and flooding also caused delays.

Staff had had to clear trampolines and sheds from the lines, the rail company added.

Dozens of train operators across England, Wales and Scotland have delayed or cancelled services after speed restrictions were imposed on many routes, and many services were finishing earlier than normal.

Passengers were urged to travel as early as possible and were advised to check the National Rail Enquiries website or speak to their train company.

Some routes would start up "a little later than usual" on Christmas Eve, said Network Rail's Robin Gisby.

Weather forecaster Elizabeth Saary explains why the UK is being hit by wet and windy weather again - and how long it will last

Ferry services were also disrupted. On a ferry crossing from Portsmouth to Bilbao a passenger had to be airlifted from the ship after falling and injuring their neck.

"A lot of us thought the ferry was going over," Catriona Koris told the BBC from onboard.

The captain had anchored off France while carrier company Brittany Ferries cancelled its Portsmouth to Caen and Plymouth to Roscoff crossings, a spokesman said.

The Environment Agency issued flood warnings across much of England and Wales, as well as the severe warning in Weymouth.

By Monday afternoon there were more than 70 flood warnings, indicating that immediate action is required, for south-west England, and others in the north-west, north-east and Anglian areas.

The agency warned people not to try to drive through floodwater.

It warned that driving into just 30cm of water was enough to carry a car away, and advised people to heed warnings and move valuables upstairs if living in a "flood risk" area.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued several flood warnings for Tayside, as well as alerts for other areas.

Elsewhere:

• The King Harry Ferry service in Cornwall will not be running
• The Tamar Bridge, which connects Devon and Cornwall, has been closed to high sided vehicles, caravans and motorbikes
• Isles of Scilly Travel say all flights on Monday have been cancelled and rescheduled to Tuesday
• The QEII Bridge at Dartford is closed and will reopen at about 04:00 GMT on Tuesday, Essex Police said, although the tunnels remain open
• The Inner Distribution Road, a busy commuter flyover in Reading, was closed by the local council as a safety precaution

The Highways Agency, which manages major roads in England, is advising drivers of vehicles vulnerable to high winds to avoid certain roads if possible.

Have you been affected by the storms? You can share your experiences, footage and photos with us using the form below.

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.

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UN seeks to boost South Sudan force

23 December 2013 Last updated at 23:01 GMT

UN's Ban Ki-moon seeks to boost South Sudan force

Ban Ki-moon: "The world is watching all sides in South Sudan"

Continue reading the main story

South Sudan strife

• Juba voices
• Tangled web
• Clashes explained
• In 60 seconds Watch

The UN secretary general has urged the Security Council to almost double the number of UN troops in South Sudan.

Ban Ki-moon asked for 5,500 police and peacekeepers to add to the 7,000-strong force there, amid escalating violence and allegations of atrocities.

He earlier said anyone responsible for abuse would be held to account.

Tens of thousands of people have fled fighting, as rebels thought to support sacked former vice-president Riek Machar have seized major towns.

His rival, President Salva Kiir, has promised an imminent counter-strike against the rebels

President Kiir, a member of the majority Dinka ethnic group, sacked Mr Machar, who is from the Nuer community, in July.

Last week the president accused Mr Machar of attempting to launch a coup, which he denies.

The fear is that their personal rivalry will spark a full-scale conflict between the Nuer and Dinka groups.

The BBC's James Copnall explains the fighting gripping the world's newest state, South Sudan - in 60 seconds

Mr Ban said attacks on civilians and UN peacekeepers "must cease immediately".

"The United Nations will investigate reports of grave human rights violations and crimes against humanity," he said.

"Those responsible at the senior level will be held personally accountable and face the consequences, even if they claim they had no knowledge of the attacks."

He requested in a letter to the Security Council that 5,500 troops be reassigned from existed UN missions in other African countries, including Liberia and Democratic Republic of Congo.

In addition, he asked for hundreds more police, three attack helicopters, three transport helicopters and one military transport plane.

'Horrible things'

Two Indian peacekeepers were killed last week in a rebel raid on a UN compound.

The fighting began in the capital Juba last week after Mr Kiir said he had quashed an attempted coup.

Since then, violence has spread throughout South Sudan, with rebels taking the major towns of Bor and Bentiu.

Between 500 and 1,000 people are thought to have been killed in the fighting and UN compounds are sheltering more than 40,000 civilians.

UN humanitarian co-ordinator Toby Lanzer, who was in Bor over the weekend, told the BBC he had witnessed "some of the most horrible things that one can imagine".

"People who were being lined up and executed in a summary fashion. This is done by people who are simply out of control," Mr Lanzer said.

James Copnall explains the fighting in South Sudan - in 60 seconds

President Kiir told parliament earlier that he was willing to hold talks with Mr Machar, saying that a delegation of East African foreign ministers had offered to mediate.

However, he said that Mr Machar would have to come to the table without any conditions.

Mr Machar told Reuters news agency that he was open to dialogue if his political allies were released from detention.

Over the weekend, the US deployed extra troops to help evacuate Americans and other foreigners.

In Bor, three US military aircraft were fired upon on Saturday, forcing the evacuation to be aborted. On Sunday, the US re-entered using civilian US and UN helicopters.

Sudan suffered a 22-year civil war that left more than one million people dead before the South became independent in 2011.

Sudan's arid north is mainly home to Arabic-speaking Muslims. But in South Sudan there is no dominant culture. The Dinkas and the Nuers are the largest of more than 200 ethnic groups, each with its own languages and traditional beliefs, alongside Christianity and Islam.

Both Sudan and the South are reliant on oil revenue, which accounts for 98% of South Sudan's budget. They have fiercely disagreed over how to divide the oil wealth of the former united state - at one time production was shutdown for more than a year. Some 75% of the oil lies in the South but all the pipelines run north

The two Sudans are very different geographically. The great divide is visible even from space, as this Nasa satellite image shows. The northern states are a blanket of desert, broken only by the fertile Nile corridor. South Sudan is covered by green swathes of grassland, swamps and tropical forest.

After gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan is the world's newest country - and one of its poorest. Figures from 2010 show some 69% of households now have access to clean water - up from 48% in 2006. However, just 2% of households have water on the premises.

Just 29% of children attend primary school in South Sudan - however this is also an improvement on the 16% recorded in 2006. About 32% of primary-age boys attend, while just 25% of girls do. Overall, 64% of children who begin primary school reach the last grade.

Almost 28% of children under the age of five in South Sudan are moderately or severely underweight - this compares with the 33% recorded in 2006. Unity state has the highest proportion of children suffering malnourishment (46%), while Central Equatoria has the lowest (17%).

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Creator of Kalashnikov rifle dies

23 December 2013 Last updated at 18:41 GMT

AK47 assault rifle designer Kalashnikov dies at 94

Mikhail Kalashnikov: "I created a weapon to defend the fatherland's borders"

The inventor of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, Mikhail Kalashnikov, has died aged 94, Russian officials say.

The automatic rifle he designed became one of the world's most familiar and widely used weapons.

Its comparative simplicity made it cheap to manufacture, as well as reliable and easy to maintain.

Although honoured by the state, Kalashnikov made little money from his gun. He once said he would have been better off designing a lawn mower.

Kalashnikov was admitted to hospital with internal bleeding in November.

He died on Monday in Izhevsk, the city where he lived 600 miles east of Moscow, an official there said.

Matching the Germans

Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov was born on 10 November 1919 in western Siberia, one of 18 children.

In 1938, he was called up by the Red Army and his design skills were used to improve the effectiveness of weapons and equipment used by Soviet tank regiments.

He designed the machine gun after being asked by a fellow soldier why the Russians could not come up with a gun that would match the ones used by the Germans.

Work on the AK47 was completed in 1947, and two years later the gun was adopted by the Soviet army.

Kalashnikov continued working into his late 80s as chief designer at the Izhevsk firm that first built the AK-47.

He received many state honours, including the Order of Lenin and the Hero of Socialist Labour.

Kalashnikov refused to accept responsibility for the many people killed by his weapon, blaming the policies of other countries that acquired it.

However, pride in his invention was tempered with sadness at its use by criminals and child soldiers.

"It is painful for me to see when criminal elements of all kinds fire from my weapon," Kalashnikov said in 2008.

23 December 2013 Last updated at 20:31 GMT

UK soldier killed in Afghanistan

The withdrawal of British troops in Afghanistan is under way

Continue reading the main story

UK troops in Afghanistan

• Military deaths in Afghanistan
• Last major Helmand handover like no other
• UK packs up equipment in Afghanistan
• Roadside bombs 'deadliest weapon'

A UK soldier from the Royal Engineers has been killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.

He died on Monday after coming under enemy fire while on operations east of Kabul.

His next of kin have been told but requested "the customary period of grace" before further details are released, an MoD spokesman added.

The serviceman is the 447th British soldier killed since the war began in 2001.

His death, the ninth this year, comes as the UK withdraws from the country and after Prime Minister David Cameron made a pre-Christmas visit to Helmand last week.

Touring Camp Bastion he announced the British mission in Afghanistan had been "accomplished" and told troops they could be "very proud of what they have done".

Outside of the camp there are now just four British bases in operation and those are due to close next year.

The number of military personnel in Afghanistan has been reduced from 9,000 to around 5,200 in 2013.

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