Rush-hour travel chaos for commuters in storm-lashed Yorkshire

High-sided vehicles were being diverted away from the area around Leeds city centre’s Bridgewater Place skyscraper due to safety concerns.

The road restrictions were likely to remain in place until lunchtime.

Drivers on the M1 were also hit by delays of up to 30 minutes after a multi-vehicle accident closed three lanes of the motorway’s northbound carriageway near Lofthouse.

There were also tailbacks between junctions 25 and 27 of the M62 eastbound and between junctions 31 and 32 of the same motorway’s westbound carriageway.

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for the whole of Yorkshire and Humberside up until 4pm today.

Its experts said wind speeds in the region could touch 70mph and warned of possible disruption to transport.

Today’s problems on the roads followed similar delays in and around Leeds city centre during Friday’s morning rush-hour.

Closures of roads at Bridgewater Place are needed in stormy conditions as the area around the 32-story tower can be gripped by a dangerous “wind tunnel” effect.

Rail services between Leeds, Wakefield Kirkgate and Knottingley were delayed early today after a person was struck by a train at Pontefract.