A woman lorry driver was killed today when the vehicle was blown over in gale-force winds on the Skipton bypass.

The lorry ploughed through a safety barrier and plunged 30ft, landing upside down in a field and partly in the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

She was one of at least ten people who died as gusts of up to 99mph and heavy downpours brought transport chaos and damage to buildings across the country.

In the Bradford area, the fierce winds ripped trees out of the ground, some of which crushed cars, and caused thousands of pounds of damage to homes and gardens. Several people were injured by flying roof tiles.

Torrential overnight rain also caused flooding in some areas. Some areas also suffered power cuts.

The dead woman's vehicle went out of control on a stretch of the A629 which spans both the canal and Broughton Road at about midday yesterday.

The impact crushed part of the driver's cab and the woman, who has not been named, was pronounced dead at the scene. The lorry had been travelling along the single carriageway section from the direction of Keighley.

The western section of the bypass was blocked to traffic from the Snaygill to Gargrave Road roundabout and traffic was diverted through Skipton.

Firefighters took about four hours to remove the driver's body after calling in specialists with a crane to lift the cab.

Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone who saw the accident or the lorry prior to the crash to telephone (01423) 539326.

  • Storms batter district