Storm chaos as power cut

Thousands of homes were without power today after storms that left a trail of death, destruction and travel chaos across the West Midlands.

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Around 140,000 homes lost power across the Midlands, with 35,000 still off today, more than 24 hours after storms started.

Central Network bosses say engineers have worked around the clock to deal with falling cables in a night described as one of the worst the company had ever experienced.

At least 12 people died across the country as gusts reached 80mph, including Birmingham Airport managing director Richard Heard and a lorry driver killed in Ludlow.

There was still major disruption on the trains today and Wolverhampton's Stafford Road between five ways island and the junction with Cannock Road remained closed after part of a roof was blown off a university building.

The storm, which also killed around 30 across Europe, caused havoc, with incidents including:

* Three children from Cannock injured by roof tiles flying from school buildings.

* A Stafford grandmother airlifted to hospital after being hurt by a falling tree.

* Pandemonium at Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton stations as trains were cancelled.

* Races at Wolverhampton's Dunstall Park called off.

* Planes at Birmingham Airport being blown sideways as they tried to take off.

The Merry Hill also suffered the effects of the weather with a power cut.

In Bentley, Walsall, families had a lucky escape after security fencing was ripped up by the strong winds and smashed into two homes.

Today forecasters said the worst of the storms was over - but frost and possibly snow could arrive next week.

By Becky Sharpe