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Man 'seriously injured' as huge tree falls into road

The giant cedar tree's collapse was one of hundreds that have been uprooted during storms, including this one, captured on door bell camera in Dorridge

A man was seriously injured when he was struck by a giant Victorian era tree brought down during Storm Darragh, the BBC understands.

He was struck as he walked with a woman and a child in a pram, who both narrowly avoided injury as the cedar tree was uprooted in Leamington Spa on Saturday.

It comes after the death of a driver whose car was hit by another falling tree, also on Saturday in Birmingham, as 60mph (97kmh) winds battered the West Midlands.

The clear-up is getting under way after the storm led to blocked roads, trains to be diverted or cancelled, and homes flooded.

Disruption caused by the storm has continued on Sunday, with some roads still blocked by fallen trees and train services cancelled or delayed.

A fallen tree on the side of a road. The tree trunk is surrounded by a temporary blue fence. A row of houses can be seen in the background.
A man died when a tree fell on his car in Erdington, as the storm battered the West Midlands over the weekend

Fallen trees were still blocking roads and paths in Birmingham neighbourhoods such as Moor Green, Rednal, and Kings Heath on Sunday mid-morning.

Part of Station Road in Codsall, near Wolverhampton was also still blocked.

West Midlands Railway said its Cross City line, which runs from Lichfield Trent Valley to Redditch and Bromsgrove, would be cancelled all day. It added that all of its services could be affected by delays or cancellations.

Cathy Dobbs Fallen trees across a road. Redbrick houses can be seen in the background.Cathy Dobbs
Fallen trees were still also blocking part of Station Road in Codsall, near Wolverhampton

West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) said it had received "an extraordinary 723 weather-related calls" and attended 122 incidents, ranging from traffic collisions to falling trees, between 06:00 GMT on Saturday and 10:00 on Sunday.

Strong winds were forecast to continue on Sunday, with a yellow weather warning in place for England and Wales until 18:00.

WMFS urged people to remain cautious, especially while driving.

Tom Whiting The front of a Poundland store with a broken window lying in the street and an ambulance parked outside, with blue and white police tape around itTom Whiting
Poundland said a passer-by was hit when winds broke a window in its store in Kings Heath, Birmingham

In Birmingham on Saturday, a man died after his car was hit by a tree in Erdington and high winds caused a Poundland shop window to break in Kings Heath.

A Poundland spokesperson said a female passer-by was hit by the glass and was "understandably shocked" but appeared to have suffered no visible injuries.

The spokesperson added that a passing nurse stopped to help and the woman was was taken to hospital for further assessment. The store was repaired and reopened on Sunday.

West Midlands Police said they were called to the incident at 15:30 GMT on Saturday and the woman, in her 50s, was not believed to have any life-threatening injuries.

Warley Woods Community Trust A tree and a number of branches scattered across the ground in a small woodWarley Woods Community Trust
Warley Woods Community Trust has issued a plea for funds and assistance to clear the trees felled during the storm, which has forced them to cancel a visit by Santa and his sleigh

In Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire, the council said almost 90 fallen trees had been reported so far and it expected more calls.

In the Black Country, the Warley Woods Community Trust has set up an online fundraising appeal and assistance to clear up the damage left by the storm.

Trust Manager Viv Cole said: "We have a small staff team, but the number of trees and the size of the trunks will make it an endless task for them."

She said some specialist equipment was needed to move some of the uprooted trees, which had forced them to cancel a planned visit by Santa and his sleigh on Sunday.

"These trees should have been good for a while yet, but Storm Darragh was just too strong," she said.

Steve Frost Three trees lie flat on the golf course, flanked by other trees still standing, against a grey sky.Steve Frost
Twenty-three trees were uprooted during the storm, at Churchill and Blakedown Golf Club

A total of 23 trees were uprooted during the storm, at Churchill and Blakedown Golf Club, in Kidderminster.

Club bosses said the course had been closed all weekend and would remain shut on Monday.

"We have 20-plus trees down, plus debris all over the course - volunteers are being asked to assist course staff in the clean up operation," a spokesman said.

A large tree that has fallen over by the side of a road. The roots are showing and the branches have been cut up so they can be stored by the side of the road on a grassy area. There are white terraced town houses on the opposite side of the street.
The storm caused hundreds of trees in the West Midlands to fall on Saturday, including a giant cedar tree in Leamington Spa

West Midlands Railway said there would be rail replacement buses for its Cross City line on Sunday, as well as for people travelling between Bromsgrove and Worcester.

It added that trains from Hereford to Birmingham New Street would be diverted to Birmingham Snow Hill.

The Cross City line runs through Birmingham's city centre and connects several of the city's neighbourhoods.

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