Motorists battle treacherous conditions as storm hits region

Gale-force winds of more than 50mph battered the West Midlands region today, bringing down trees and causing treacherous driving conditions.

Strong winds and heavy rain lashed the region overnight and through to today.

A tree crashed down onto a busy road in Wolverhampton, leading to delays for motorists.

And in Staffordshire, a fallen tree was today being cleared after it fell down onto Cannock's Norton Road East between Brownhills Road and Burntwood Road, causing the closure of the busy route.

Tree surgeons from Wolverhampton City Council were called to Compton Road, at the junction with Clarendon Street, at 6.15am after reports that a tree had been uprooted and had fallen into the road.

The road was closed in both directions, and a diversion was put in place, until the route reopened at 8am.

Keith Fullwood, landlord of the Royal Oak near to where the tree fell, said today: "I was up at about 7.30am and saw that the police had blocked the road and were diverting traffic down Clarendon Street.

"I heard the winds last night but didn't hear the tree come down," he added.

"The tree is still at the side of the road but everything was cleared pretty quickly."

The Met Office said today that gusts of more than 50mph were reported in the Midlands, Wales, Northern Ireland, western Scotland and western England.

Strong winds and heavy rain were forecast for the Midlands today before turning dry and bright later.