Winter deals savage blow as high winds continue to wreck havoc across Britain

Gusts of 165mph were recorded in the Cairngorms, while 80mph winds battered central Scotland.

Meanwhile, parts of South Yorkshire had winds of up to 70mph and police in the north of the region were forced to close the A66 between Scotch Corner and County Durham.

Northbound trains were heavily delayed, with East Coast Rail running at reduced speeds.

Domestic flights were also affected, as conditions worsened through the afternoon. On the River Humber, 350 ferry passengers travelling from Rotterdam, had a nine hour delay awaiting tugs.

Many local councils took precautions, with Bradford City Council opting to close all council-owned pitches. In Leeds, the council advised against high-end vehicles in Bridegwater Place.

An investigation was launched earlier this year to see if the Bridgewater Place skyscraper was contributing to a wind tunnel effect after a pedestrian died when a lorry toppled onto him on nearby Neville Street in March.