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Events scaled back and roads shut as storm hits

BBC Debris from fallen trees can be seen strewn across a road, with the wing mirror and corner of a van visible in the right hand side of the image.BBC
High winds brought a number of trees down in parts of Staffordshire

Severe weather conditions have caused disruption across the region, with a number of events cancelled or scaled back.

Among them is Trentham Gardens, in Staffordshire, which posted that their gardens and woodland walks would be shut on Saturday.

Stone Farmer's Market was cancelled for Saturday, but traders said they were still hoping to continue with the Christmas market on Sunday.

Tamworth Borough Council has also cancelled its Christmas lights switch-on event in the town, having previously postponed the event as Storm Bert hit in November.

Storm Darragh's high winds meant it was unsafe to run an outdoor event, the council said.

In Cheshire, the outdoor section of Sandbach's Christmas market has been cancelled, while the indoor section at the town hall will go ahead as planned, according to the town council.

Cheshire East Council also posted a number of road closures due to fallen trees.

The authority said these included Chancehall Lane in Scholar Green, Congleton Road in Sandbach, Middlewich Road in Nantwich - near the Sainsbury's supermarket - Swanley Lane in Nantwich, A530 Whitchurch Road near Slaughter House Lane and A529 Audlem Road, near Corbrook Court.

Tom Parkin A fallen tree with its roots pulling part of the pavement up and its branches in the front of a house with a brick ground floor and a white rendered upper floorTom Parkin
A number of trees have blown down including this one in Kings Heath, Birmingham

In Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Council said the organisers of the Christmas market in Southwater had made the decision to close due to the weather conditions on Saturday.

Telford United's game against Royston Town was also postponed.

The A5 was shut both ways from the B5070 at the Gledrid roundabout to A483 at the Halton Roundabout due to strong winds.

The county also saw power cuts, as more than 2,000 properties were left without electricity, according to National Grid.

The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings for the Illey Brook at Halesowen and for the Severn at Bewdley and in north Shropshire.

It has also issued a number of flood alerts for the region.

People have also posted on social media about trees down across Herefordshire.

National Grid reported there were 29 incidents in the county, with more than 2,000 properties affected.

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