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Storm Malik: Tyne and Wear Metro shuts down entire system

PA Media A person on a windy Tynemouth beachPA Media
A dog walker braved the winds at Tynemouth amid yellow weather warnings across northern England

Thousands of residents have been left without power amid disruption from Storm Malik that also closed a metro system and scattered debris from homes.

Tyne and Wear Metro operator Nexus said services would be suspended until high winds eased and staff could do repairs.

Strong gusts are affecting various parts of the UK, and an amber warning for wind was in place across the North East for a time on Saturday.

Northern Powergrid said about 30,000 local customers were without power.

More than 48,000 customers' supplies were restored by 16:00 GMT, the company said.

A spokesperson said engineers were restoring power remotely to Northumberland and County Durham residents wherever possible, but "continued gale force winds mean it is currently unsafe for teams to climb and repair damage to overhead power lines by fallen trees and flying debris".

A "number" of customers are expected to have no power for the "majority" of the weekend.

The Met Office said gusts of 93mph had been recorded at Brizlee Wood in Northumberland.

Steven Lomas Storm Malik damage to a car is South ShieldsSteven Lomas
Bricks fell onto this car in South Shields during the storm

Northumbria Police said at about 10:15 GMT it received a report that a gable end of a house had collapsed and fallen on two women in Winlaton, Gateshead.

Emergency services attended and both women were treated at the scene for injuries not described as life-threatening, officers added.

The area has been cordoned off and made secure by the local authority.

The roof was blown off this house in Bensham, Gateshead
The roof was blown off this house in Bensham

In Bensham, Gateshead, a roof was blown off a property on Saturday morning.

A neighbour said: "The fire brigade was here and my partner got told to evacuate the building.

"There is a lot of debris flying around, it's so dangerous."

Metro sign
Nexus said teams were out on the network inspecting the damage caused by Storm Malik

LNER is advising people not to travel between Newcastle and Scotland due to "substantial damage" to the rail network.

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The A66 running from Durham to Cumbria was closed to high-sided and vulnerable vehicles in both directions between the M6 J40 and the A1(M).

Northumbria Police Road Safety Van blown across the A19Northumbria Police Road Safety
Fire crews were sent to the A19 where a high-sided vehicle had blown over

The Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service earlier responded to an incident on the A19 where a high-sided vehicle had blown over.

A spokesperson said no-one was injured, but it "acts as a reminder of the dangers of travelling in high winds".

National Highways Overturned vehicle on the A1(M) between J59 Newton Aycliffe and J60 HartlepoolNational Highways
An overturned vehicle caused delays on the A1(M) between Newton Aycliffe and Hartlepool

A number of Stagecoach and Go North East bus services have been suspended across the region due to storm damage.

In Sunderland, customers have been evacuated from the Bridges shopping centre due to safety concerns.

A trampoline blown into the street in Fenham
A trampoline was blown into the street in Fenham
A fallen tree at Jesmond Dene
There are reports of a number of fallen trees across the North East
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