Storm Callum: Trees down and trains cancelled as Shropshire and Mid Wales take a battering
Trains were called off and weather warnings issued as Shropshire and Mid Wales buckled in for a two-day battering from Storm Callum.
The Environment Agency warned of possible flooding in the region as a result of heavy rainfall while the Met Office predicted rain and wind throughout Friday and Saturday.
Roads were blocked due to trees being blown over by high winds, including one at Horsehay Pool in Telford.
Fence panels were also causing problems in Market Drayton.
A yellow weather warning for wind was issued on Friday morning over the West Midlands, including Shropshire, to remain in place until midnight.
Shropshire is on the edge of another yellow warning for rain, affecting the whole of Wales throughout Friday and into Saturday.
Met Office Shawbury said wind was expected to pick up on Friday along with outbreaks of rain.
Road and rail users have been warned to expect disruption and delays.
Train cancellations will affect those travelling the Shrewsbury to Aberyswyth line through Mid Wales all weekend.
Arriva Trains Wales has announced no services on the Cambrian Line will run between Newtown and Machynlleth from 10am on Friday until Monday morning.
Replacement buses and a revised timetable are in place, but Arriva has also warned these could be further hit by anticipated road closures due to flooding and trees coming down.
In the other direction, disruption is expected on services from Birmingham New Street. Passengers are advised to plan ahead and check for updates before travel.
Highways England and local emergency services have warned drivers to allow extra time for journeys and drive cautiously in wet conditions. They are also responding to reports of trees falling or in danger of falling.
Heavy rainfall is expected to raise river levels. Dave Throup from the Environment Agency said flooding in Shropshire could be possible and rainfall was being monitored "closely".
People have taken to social media to share their own weather pictures and videos.
Events across the region have also been cancelled.
Storm Callum brings winds up to 76mph and torrential rain across the UK. The highest speeds have been recorded on the Isles of Scilly in the early hours of Friday, while 60mph gales were recorded in Camborne in Cornwall and Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire.
Western Power Distribution said more than 950 homes had been left without electricity in south-west England and nearly 100 were without power in south Wales. Some flights were cancelled at Cardiff and Exeter Airports on Friday morning.
In Scotland, Storm Callum has caused further landslips after around 2,500 tonnes of debris was caught in specialist netting above the A83 in Argyll and Bute earlier this week.
The Met Office warned heavy rainfall moving in from the South West could present a risk to life and issued a number of weather warnings and flooding alerts around the country.
Windsor, the scene of Friday’s royal wedding, was expected to escape the worst of the storm.
