Umbrellas and even roof tiles proved all but useless as the district found itself buffeted from all sides by gale force winds and heavy rain yesterday.

Travel and shopping were made difficult as westerly winds reached speeds of 62mph and wreaked havoc on the roads.

On the Bingley bypass, two cars collided trying to avoid rolls of carpet that were blown off the back of a lorry. No-one was hurt.

Police warned drivers of high-sided vehicles to avoid the stretch of the M62 westbound between junctions 23 and 21 due to the gales.

And a van driver in Hellifield, near Skipton, was treated for glass in his eyes after the wind hurled a large piece of metal at his windscreen.

The flooding near Skipton had major knock-on effects on the rail network too.

Trains were brought to a halt on the Airedale line at Cononley, resulting in severe delays on services getting in to Bradford Forster Square.

At one point there were 40-minute delays at Bradford Interchange after trains were forced to travel at walking pace further down the line at Hebden Bridge.

Shopping was even affected as lashings of lunchtime rain in Shipley forced one store to shut its doors early.

Customers had to be turned away from Home Bargains in Market Street after its flat roof began to leak through.

A spokesman for the store said there had been little damage but architects and engineers had been called all the same.

The strong winds caused disruption to traffic after part of the banner covering scaffolding on Eastbrook Hall came loose.

Bradford Council closed the outbound lane of Leeds Road between Bridge Street and Shipley Airedale Road for about two-and-a-half hours after the alarm was raised at 4pm.

The gales felled several trees across Craven, blocking the A6068 between Cowling and Glusburn and obstructing the road at Millholme Rise in Embsay.

A flood warning was issued for Mirfield as the River Calder burst its banks.

But people in Bradford breathed a sigh of relief as the city escaped severe flooding.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "We are keeping an eye on the water level at monitoring points on the Rivers Calder, Aire and Wharfe. There is increased risk of flooding for homes and businesses, but we expect better weather over the weekend."

People are being encouraged to check the Environment Agency's website or call the 24-hour Floodline on 0845 9881188.

...but strawbs are blooming!

We're experiencing some strange side-effects of an unusual climate this winter. Now strawberries, synonymous with long hot summer days, have made a very early appearance, fooled by the warm temperatures.

The fruit is blossoming in the garden of Beech House, Idle, Bradford, the regional HQ of the British Red Cross.

Jeff Goodall, above, co-ordinator with the charity, couldn't believe his eyes when he spotted the blooms which have grown from seeds planted by students at Immanuel College two years ago.

"We couldn't believe it when we saw them flowering - that was on December 29," he said.

Colin Walker, outdoor manager at Stephen H Smith's garden centre in Harden, said: "This is another indication of what is happening at the moment. It's just bizarre weather."

TV weatherman Paul Hudson said: "Monday night was the warmest January night in Yorkshire since records began, autumn was the warmest on record and the year was the warmest on record and winter so far has been incredibly mild. So nature is in a bit of a mess at the moment."

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