Mcb777 LiveStorm Arwen: Third person crushed to death by tree in weather chaos as 140,000 homes hit by power cuts | The Sun - Machibet777 Casino

A THIRD person has been crushed to death by a tree and 140,000 homes have no power as chaotic 98mph Storm Arwen batters Britain.

A 35-year-old driver was killed when the tree fell on his car on the B977 in Aberdeenshire around 5.45pm yesterday.

One shocking image shows a police van crushed under a tree in AberdeenshireCredit: Newsline

The police officers are understood to have already left the car when the tree fellCredit: Newsline

Severe weather has closed major roads, including a section of the M26, and a railway across the country

Another vehicle was seen crushed by a tree in SomersetCredit: Apex

And a second man - who has also not been named - was crushed by a falling tree in Ambleside, Cumbria (the tree, pictured), last nightCredit: i-Images

Traffic is stranded on the A635 near Saddleworth in OldhamCredit: Startraks

The Tan Hill Inn in Yorkshire - Britain's highest pub - has been buried in enormous snowdriftsCredit: SWNS

Shortly after cops arrived at the scene, their police van was almost torn in two by another falling tree - as the devastating storm raged on, cutting off power for thousands.

Luckily, no officers were hurt in the incident near Hatton-of-Fintray, Aberdeenshire.

Police Scotland confirmed a driver - who has not been named - was "fatally injured when a vehicle was struck by a falling tree".

He died at the scene shortly before 6pm.

It marks Storm Arwen's third casualty, after head teacher and dad-of-four Francis Lagan was killed when a tree fell on his car in Antrim, Northern Ireland, yesterday.

And a second man - who has also not been named - was crushed by a falling tree in Ambleside, Cumbria, last night.

The storm has brought 33ft waves, plunging temperatures and blizzards to much of the UK.

In Brizlee Wood, Northumberland, windspeeds hit a massive 98mph - followed closely by Berry Head, Devon, where 92mph gusts were recorded.

In Orlock Head, County Down, winds of 87mph were noted. Meanwhile, speeds hit 81mph in Aberporth, Dyfed, and 79mph in The Needles on the Isle of Wight.

The mercury plunged to -5C in Scotland as the bone-shaking chill took over this morning - with -3C temps recorded in parts of the midlands.

More than 100,000 homes have been left without power across the UK.

Scotland has 75,000 homes without power, while England has 55,000 and Wales has 11,000.

The Met Office has now plastered a yellow weather warning for ice across much of the UK - stretching from the northern tip of Scotland and down to Leicester.

The second storm victim died at the scene in Ambleside after a tree fell on him last night.

A Cumbria Constabulary statement read: "Police and partner agencies are in attendance to a serious incident on Vicarage Road, Ambleside.

KILLER STORM

"The incident involved a tree falling on to a man. Police were called to the scene at 11pm yesterday.

"Emergency services including Fire, Search and Rescue, Ambulance and Police attended the scene.

"The man who was from Lancaster sadly died at the scene.

"Police and partner agencies are attending the scene as the tree remains dangerous and the public is asked to avoid the area until the tree has been made safe."

Last night, father-of-four Francis died when a tree toppled onto his car in Antrim, Northern Ireland.

It's thought he had been driving with his wife and two of his children - who all escaped without injury.

He had been headteacher at St Mary’s Primary School in Maghera, Co Derry.

Severe weather has closed major roads and a railways across the country, resulting in significant tail-backs.

More than 120 lorries became completely stranded in severe snow between junctions 21 and 22 on the M62 at 2.30am today.

Gritters and snow ploughs were quickly deployed to clear the way and reopen the road, reports.

The second storm victim died at the scene in Ambleside after a tree fell on him last nightCredit: i-Images

Crimden Dene Caravan Park in Hartlepool, County Durham, was evacuated in the windCredit: BackGrid

A lorry blew over in high winds blocks the A179 near Hartlepool, County DurhamCredit: PA

A car was covered in bricks after a building collapsed in SunderlandCredit: PA

Francis Lagan became the first victim of Storm Arwen

A fallen tree blocked a road in the centre of Norton village in TeesideCredit: PA

Storm Arwen blows a caravan into a garden in DundeeCredit: BackGrid

Bricks flew off a building and landed on a VW camper in Seaham last nightCredit: Jordan Crosby

In Blackpool a section of The Promenade was shut off last night - with Blackpool Council warning of a "collapsed building" after the city was hit with strong winds.

Residents of nearby properties were evacuated by fire crews - and witnesses say brick and debris were scattered along pavements.

This morning, Northern Powergrid said severe gales had caused power cuts for more than 55,000 customers, mainly in the Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne and Wear areas.

Meanwhile, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks confirmed that as of 9.30am on Saturday, 75,000 homes in Scotland were still without power due to the damage caused by the storm.

The firm has restored power to more than 40,000 homes, but warned the weather was severely hampering its work.

Meanwhile, a total of 11,000 homes are without power in Wales - with Western Power Distribution and SP Energy Networks both reporting outages.

The Scottish Government ordered motorists to stay off the roads because of a "potential risk to life" in the terrible storm.

The move sparked a rush to get home, as rural communities feared they would be cut off altogether.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: "The decision by the Met Office to issue a rare red weather warning for strong winds signals a potentially damaging and dangerous risk to life in some areas of Scotland.

"People in these affected areas should not travel under any circumstances, including motorists.

"Yellow and amber weather warnings also remain in place for a number of areas and people should continue to exercise extreme caution and plan any necessary journeys in advance as there is disruption to transport services.

TRANSPORT CHAOS

"The Scottish Government is in close contact with local authorities and the emergency services to ensure people in the affected areas receive the latest information, advice and support where needed."

The red weather warning was in place for all coastal areas within Angus, Dundee, Fife, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, East Lothian and the Scottish Borders until 2am.

Now, the entire UK is blanketed in yellow and amber weather alerts.

Train operator London North Eastern Railway issued a ";do not travel" alert to customers as its services will be "significantly disrupted due to severe weather" until Sunday.

The firm runs trains on the East Coast Main Line between London and Scotland, calling at stations including Leeds, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Network Rail closed the East Coast route north of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, from 5pm on Friday.

Passengers are being warned further closures could be imposed elsewhere on the route.