Chessington World of Adventures & Longleat safari park SHUT today as Storm Eunice to bring deadly 100mph winds
STORM Eunice has sparked half-term chaos with several major attractions shutting today as 100mph winds tear across the country.
Chessington World of Adventures, Legoland in Windsor and the London Eye will stay closed until the weekend after a rare red "danger to life" warning was issued.
The West Midlands Safari Park, Salisbury Cathedral, Longleat, Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire and the National Holocaust Centre in Nottinghamshire will also be shut for the day.
A statement released today by Legoland reads: "Due to the weather warning issued by the Met Office we've made the difficult decision to close the resort (on Friday).
"If you're due to visit we'll be in touch to discuss re-booking. We apologise for the disappointment and look forward to welcoming you back soon!"
Kew Gardens, which will also remain closed, said: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused."
Longleat said it has "regrettably" taken the "difficult decision to close the park". Anyone who had been due to visit on Friday will receive a full refund within a fortnight.
The storm has sparked half-term chaos for bored families who will be forced to stay inside as dangerous gales take hold.
As Britain braces for Storm Eunice...
- Motorists warned to NOT travel by RAC unless absolutely necessary
- All trains in Wales cancelled for Friday
- Schools in majority of Welsh areas closed as pupils told to stay at home
- Bristol City Council was advising schools to close in the city because of the torrent
- A man died falling of a HGV lorry last night during Storm Dudley
- Storm Eunice set to be the worst storm UK has seen in years
- Brits bracing for 100mph winds and 8inches snow in the north
- Network Rail said disruption is 'inevitable'
- Met Office upgraded storm to red warning - bringing 'danger to life'
- Thirteen pedigree dogs were electrocuted to death after a falling power line crashed onto a kennel
Red and amber warnings for wind have been issued across swathes of the country, while a yellow snow warning is in place for Scotland and northern England.
It's feared the storm will be the worst for more than 30 years.
Forecasters say gales could be stronger than those recorded on Burns Night in 1990, when wind speeds reached 107mph.
In Bristol and Wales, likely to be two of the hardest-hit areas, schools have been forced to shut today over fears pupils and teachers could be in danger.
All trains in Wales have also been cancelled.
And Brits across the country have been warned not to travel after Storm Dudley claimed a life last night.
A man, in his sixties plunged around 12 feet after falling from a lorry.
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It is believed he was attempting to unload heavy goods in high winds when he lost his balance.
Emergency services were called to the incident in Marston Green, near Solihull, West Mids, at 9pm.
Storm Eunice has now been declared a major incident by Avon and Somerset over the "potential for severe disruption" to the region.
Met Office forecaster Becky Mitchell said: "With the wind gusts we are forecasting at the moment, we've only seen a handful of storms in the past 30 years that have brought similar gusts.
"It's got the potential to be up there as quite a notable storm."
Meteorologists has now issued the highest level of alert for the tempest, warning that there could be a "danger to life";.
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The red weather warning covers the coastline of Devon and Cornwall as well as the south coast of Wales.
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It will come into effect from 7am on Friday.
High winds will tear down trees, rip roofs off buildings and fell power lines, meteorologists say.
