Barman Paul Rhodes has been left counting the cost after a 60ft tree crashed down on his £10,000 car yesterday.

Only moments earlier the 29-year-old, of Bingley, had parked up his Citroen in Shipley town centre to get a bite to eat at the town's bowling alley in Market Street.

Mr Rhodes, a regular at the bowling alley, said: "I was only popping in to grab something to eat and I was talking to staff when we heard a huge crash. We looked out and saw the tree right on top of my car. It looked like a big claw gripping it, pinning it to the floor. The car's going to be a write-off. I feel sick."

Another car was crushed by a tree in a car park in Keighley.

And the storm also sent tiles from Shipley Town Hall flying across Kirkgate and its surrounding streets. One passer-by was struck and taken to hospital. Police cordoned off part of Kirkgate outside the town hall at the junction of Rosse Street and Manor Lane - Windsor Road was also closed to traffic.

Rail services were severely disrupted. Passengers on the Bradford to Ilkley line faced severe delays after overhead power lines were damaged.

Last night all rail passengers were being advised not to travel.

Flights at Leeds-Bradford Airport were also badly affected with many delays or cancellations.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire police said it had dealt with a high number of incidents relating to the bad weather conditions.

A house in Woodvale Crescent, Bingley, was damaged when a tree was blown on to the roof and fascia board at a house in Stapper Green, Wilsden, was loosened by the wind.

Keighley Road, Harden; Haworth Road, Heaton; Swine Lane, Riddlesden; Nab Lane, Nab Wood, and Green Head Road, Keighley were closed by police and highways officials at some point while tree branches were cleared.

Year 9 and 10 pupils at Ilkley Grammar School were sent home at lunchtime after part of the school roof was dislodged.

Children at Oakbank School, Keighley, also went home early when the village was blacked out by a power cut and pupils at Foxhill Primary left after roof tiles fell in the playground.

All three schools were expected to reopen today.

Cars parked at Future House, the headquarters of Education Bradford, the private company that runs the district's schools, were damaged by flying debris.

Danger from high winds led to closure of Upper Piccadilly, in Bradford city centre, yesterday after asphalt blew from a roof shortly after midday.

Fields in the Silsden area were underwater and the River Aire was very high with Shipley Golf Club in danger of flooding after the river threatened to burst its banks.

A large tree on the outskirts of the driving range was felled yesterday by the wind.

Head greenkeeper, Nigel Graham, said: "I have had constant phone calls from members eager to play but because of the bad weather it is just not possible. It is the worst I have ever seen it."

Flooding created havoc for motorists and householders across South Craven.

Firefighters were called to Willow Way, Sutton, to pump out drain flood water from a house.

Residents in Holme Lane, Cross Hills, had water seep into their homes when vehicles ploughing through deep water caused waves.

The road between Glusburn and Cross Hills was awash and a woman was taken to Airedale Hospital when her car hit a tree.

A car skidded on water and struck a wall on the A65 between Gargrave and Skipton at 6.45am yesterday.

Rural roads in the Keighley area were difficult to negotiate because of surface water and debris.

A North Yorkshire police spokesman said: "There was a lot of standing water. The problem is that some motorists do not drive according to the conditions and that is often when difficulties arise.

"We urge motorists travelling in these weather conditions to reduce their speed, allow extra time for their journey and be more aware of what is around them."

The Freight Transport Association asked drivers to postpone or reroute journeys after reports of many lorries blowing over in the region.

CE Electric said 30,000 customers in Yorkshire, the North East and Lincolnshire had suffered power cuts in the gales.

Householders in Bradford and the surrounding area were among those blacked out.

A CE Electric spokesman said power would be restored as soon as possible.

A Northern Rail spokesman said the service between Bradford to Ilkley was disrupted yesterday by a problem with overhead power lines between Guiseley and Ilkey.

There were no GNER trains between Skipton and Bradford to London last night. Tickets for yesterday were valid for today, said the company.

A GNER spokesman said yesterday: "Owing to numerous weather-related incidents, GNER train services are being severely disrupted this afternoon. "Passengers are asked to defer travel until tomorrow if possible as we cannot guarantee to get them to their final destination by alternative means today."

Telegraph & Argus features manager Sue Taylor was also dismayed to learn that a 25ft hawthorn tree in her garden had been ripped out by the roots, taking much of the lawn with it.

Seven coping tiles had been ripped off the roof of her home in Cloverdale, Shelf.

All rugby and football games set to be played on Bradford Council-owned pitches this weekend have been cancelled because of standing water.