Storm: Battle To Get Britain Working Again

Up to 61,000 homes are still without power following the most powerful storm to hit Britain for a decade.

The authorities are continuing to clear away debris and fallen trees while engineers work to restore power and rail services slowly return to normal.

Dubbed St Jude after the patron saint of lost causes, the storm claimed four lives and caused transport disruption on road, rail, air and sea as it ripped across the country, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

National Rail said it was not yet able to say how services would be affected today, but urged travellers to check with their train operator, while ferry services from Dover are still delayed because of rough seas.

The storm, which is now over Scandinavia, will today be replaced with far lighter winds and rain, but dozens of areas in southern England still remain on flood alert, the Environment Agency said.

Insurers are counting the cost of the storm, but say it is too early to tell whether it will compare with the multi-billion pound hits caused by previous severe weather events.

Fallen trees caused major delays for Monday morning commuters

On Monday morning, winds of up to 100mph swept through the South West, South, South East, the Midlands and the East of England after first hitting land in the early hours.

Up to 2.4in of rain - half the monthly average - fell in a just few hours during the storm in areas including Hampshire and Devon, causing flash-floods.

Bethany Freeman, 17, died after a 30ft tree fell on the caravans she and her family were living in while renovation work was taking place at their home at Edenbridge in Kent shortly after 7am.

"Loving husband" and father-of-three Donal Drohan, 51, originally from Waterford in the Irish Republic, died after his car was hit by a tree at the bridge over the River Colne in Watford.

In Hounslow, west London, two people were killed by an explosion, thought to have been caused by an uprooted tree rupturing a gas main, which devastated three houses and damaged two others.

Met Office spokeswoman Laura Young warned that the impacts from the storm are still around and urged the public to remain alert.

John Lee, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said it was the most powerful storm in years.

"There will no doubt be some disruption still following the damage caused by strong winds and heavy rain, but the weather will be quite different," he said.

"It will be blustery with some showers, especially in the west, but a lot lighter.

"On Friday there is an indication that stormy weather could return, but it's likely to bring heavy rain rather than strong winds."

:: Keep up to date with the latest travel information in your area:

TRAINS:

Greater Anglia
Stansted Express
East Coast
East Midlands Trains
C2C
First Hull Trains
Grand Central
London Midland
South West Trains
Southeastern
Southern Railway
First Capital Connect
Arriva Trains Wales
London Overground
London Underground

PLANES:

Heathrow Airport

FERRIES:

Brittany Ferries

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Energy Prices: MPs To Turn Up Heat On 'Big Six'

Energy: Who Are The Big Six?

Updated: 10:56am UK, Tuesday 29 October 2013

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

As energy bills continue to dominate in Westminster, MPs will today hear from the "Big Six" companies – who together supply over 99% of British homes. So who are they?

:: British Gas

Much to the annoyance of MPs and the public, five out of six of the companies have failed to put up their chief executives. British Gas will instead put up Ian Peters, managing director of energy.

He will be seen as a key witness because British Gas (which also operates as Scottish Gas) is the UK's largest supplier of energy to households with almost 10 million residential customers.

British Gas has announced that the bills for dual-fuel customers will rise by 9.2% from 23 November. That is an 8.4% increase in gas prices and 10.4% in electricity.

The average annual bill will go up by £123 to £1,444. That is despite an overall profit in 2012 of over £600m.

:: E.ON

Tony Cocker is the only chief executive agreeing to stand in the spotlight today. His company, E.ON, has yet to announce price rises although it is expected to do so soon.

E.ON – which used to be called Powergen – operates in over 30 countries, serving 26 million customers.

Its price increases last year brought the average bill to £1,370. Its sales revenues in 2012 rose by 5% to £132.1bn with profits in excess of £800m

But the previous chief executive said the results were down to one-off effects and warned that parts of the business remained barely profitable.

:: EDF

Martin Lawrence, the managing director of energy sourcing and customer supply, will represent EDF today.

The company – which supplies around 3.7 million households in Britain - has also not announced a price increase as yet although it was one of the later ones to do so last year as well.

In 2012 it put up the average dual-fuel bill by 10.8%

The company's UK retail arm made a loss of £92m in 2012. But the success of its power generation arm – with nuclear power stations, coal plants and a gas power station – meant it was able to announce profits above £900m in the summer.

:: SSE

This latest storm of controversy around energy bills began with an announcement by SSE of an 8.2% increase in dual-fuel prices. This pushed up the average to £1,380

That is despite profits of over £400m in 2012. The company blamed wholesale prices but also green levies attached to bills through Government policy. The row led David Cameron to pledge to roll back the levies.

The company is putting forward Will Morris, managing director of retail.

:: npower

With 3.5 million UK customers npower is a huge player in the UK and one of the largest gas and electricity companies across Europe.

The company has announced its price rises to come in at the start of December. The electricity price will increase by 9.3% with gas going up by 11.1% – making the average bill 10.4% higher – up to £1,459.

In March the company faced controversy when it announced a 34% increase in profits to £413m – although the figure relating to domestic supply is lower.

The company is putting up Guy Johnson, its external affairs director.

:: Scottish Power

Neil Clitheroe, CEO retail and generation, will appear in front of MPs. The company is the most recent to announce price rises this winter of 8.6% - an 8.5% rise in in gas and 9% in electricity.

That means the average household bill will go up by £113 to £1,424.

It revealed that it had more than doubled pre-tax profits to £712m in July – and an £890m divided to its Spanish parent, Iberdrola, also caused anger.

:: Watch MPs question representatives from the Big Six on Sky News from 2.30pm.

:: Watch a live debate on energy between shadow energy minister Caroline Flint and energy minister Michael Fallon at 5.30pm on Sky News.

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Savile Chauffeur David Smith Found Dead

A former driver charged with sex offences as part of the investigation triggered by allegations of abuse against Jimmy Savile has been found dead.

David Smith, 66, was the first person to be charged by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Operation Yewtree investigation.

He had pleaded not guilty in July to two counts of indecent assault and two of gross indecency on a child following his arrest in December.

Smith leaving court in May

But he failed to turn up at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday for the start of his trial, prompting police to go to his home in Effingham Road, Lewisham.

Scotland Yard said: "At approximately 14:20 officers entered the address and found the body of a man. A FME (forensic medical examiner) attended and pronounced the man dead at the scene. Next of kin are being informed."

Smith's barrister, Sandy Canavan, had told the court she was "concerned" that her solicitor had been unable to contact him ahead of the trial as she had regularly been in touch with him.

She told the court Smith was the sole carer for his elderly mother.

Police have separated the Yewtree investigation into three parts, the first concerned with the actions of Savile, while the second concerns allegations against what has become known as 'Savile and others'.

Smith was investigated under the third strand, concerning accusations of sexual abuse unconnected to Savile, but made by people who came forward following publicity surrounding the Savile allegations.

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Storm Causes Major Headache For Commuters

Transport services including trains, planes and ferries have been cancelled or disrupted after a severe storm struck the southern half of the UK.

More than 200 trees fell on railway lines across the South and the South East, with Network Rail saying its engineers would be working to remove them "as soon as possible".

East Coast Trains said fallen power cables and flooding at the southern end of its network had caused delays and cancellations to services and urged passengers not to travel, while First Capital Connect told its passengers there would be "no services until further notice".

Passengers at London Waterloo were going nowhere fast

Other operators including Greater Anglia Trains, East Midlands Trains and C2C Trains suspended services until at least 12pm because of fallen trees and damage to overhead power lines.

Hurricane-force winds and heavy rain also caused disruption on the roads, with a number of major routes affected.

Both Severn estuary crossings were closed, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and the Sheppey Crossing in Kent.

A tree on the tracks at Keymer, West Sussex. Pic: Network Rail/Twitter

A lorry overturned on the M11 in Essex, the A2 was shut in west Kent because of the number of fallen trees and flooding affected parts of the M6 in Merseyside.

Countless local roads were also closed, as emergency services and council crews worked to remove trees and other debris.

Meanwhile, rough seas caused the Port of Dover to suspend ferry crossings temporarily, while Brittany Ferries cancelled services between Plymouth and Roscoff, Poole and Cherbourg and Portsmouth and Bilbao.

The clean up begins in London. Pic: madebymartha/madebymartha/Twitter

More than 130 flights were cancelled from Heathrow airport, although Gatwick said it was operating a "near normal service".

Among the transport operators affected by the storm are:

Trains

:: Southern Railway was not able to resume services, including the Gatwick Express, at 9am as planned because of a large number of trees obstructing the line.

:: South West Trains has warned people not to travel at all on Monday and will be running a "significantly reduced timetable".

:: Southeastern Railway is running a high speed service between Ashford and St Pancras International but warned passengers the service would be "very busy". Its metro and mainline routes are suspended because of the number of branches and trees on the line.

:: East Coast Trains said disruption was expected throughout the day between London Kings Cross and Peterborough because of overhead line problems.

:: Greater Anglia Trains services including the Stansted Express will be suspended until at least 12pm because of damage to overhead power lines and trees on the line.

:: First Capital Connect has said it has "no indication of when services will resume" but warned some routes may remain closed all day.

:: London Overground services have been suspended.

:: East Midlands Trains has suspended services between Bedford and London St Pancras because of fallen trees. Travel is not expected to resume until at least 12pm.

:: C2C trains are suspended until 12pm because of the amount of debris on the track.

:: Eurostar cross-channel services are running, although speed restrictions are in place.

Planes

:: Heathrow airport has cut capacity for all airlines on Monday, including a 20% reduction between 6am and 11am. About 130 flights have been cancelled and the airport recommends all passengers contact their airline.

:: Gatwick said it was operating a "near normal service", while Stansted, Luton and Bristol airports have not yet announced any cancellations.

Ferries

:: Brittany Ferries has announced cancellations between Plymouth and Roscoff, Poole and Cherbourg and Portsmouth and Bilbao.

:: The Port of Dover has reopened after a temporary closure, although passengers are urged to contact their ferry operator before travelling.

:: Ferries have been cancelled between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly.

Roads

:: The Highways Agency has issued a severe weather alert for high-sided vehicles, caravans, motorbikes and other vulnerable vehicles.

:: Both crossings over the Severn estuary were closed but have since reopened.

:: Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, the southbound Dartford Crossing, is closed with traffic diverted through the tunnel.

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Mangaung: G4S Prison In 'Torture' Claims Probe

A South African prison run by British security firm G4S has been accused of torturing inmates with electric shocks and subjecting them to forced injections.

Insiders at Mangaung Correctional Centre, near Bloemfontein, said water was thrown over inmates to increase the impact of the electric charge.

The South African government has temporarily taken over the running of the jail from G4S and launched an investigation.

In a statement, it said G4S had "lost effective control of the facility" following "recent stabbing and hostage incidents".

G4S - which is trying to recover from a series of damaging incidents with the UK government - says it has seen no evidence of abuse by its employees.

The Wits Justice Project - part of the journalism department of the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg - obtained footage showing alleged abuse inside the high security prison.

It collected accounts of electric shocks and beatings from almost 30 prisoners during a year-long investigation.

In one video, the click of electrified shields and shrieking can be heard. It also shows a prisoner resisting a medication.

"Some said they would pass out when the shocks became too intense," said Ruth Hopkins, a journalist with the project.

Prisoners also complained about suffering broken limbs and other serious injuries, she said.

G4S is trying to recover from a series of damaging incidents in the UK

One former prisoner told the BBC electric shocks were used as "torture".

A staff member at the prison hospital said inmates were injected with Clopixol Depot, Risperdal, Etomine and Modecate - anti-psychotic drugs that can cause memory loss, muscle rigidity and strokes.

Former inmate Thabo Godfrey Botsane claims he was beaten by security officers because a cell in his unit had been set alight.

"They stripped me naked, poured water over me, electroshocked and kicked me," he said. "They left me naked and bleeding on the floor. A guy from the prison intelligence unit - not a nurse - came back and he injected me in my buttocks."

Former warders Pule Moholo, Dehlazwa Mdi and Themba Tom said they remember the sound of inmates screaming.

"There was a sound-proof room called the 'dark room'. EST members would bring inmates there, strip them naked, pour water over them and electroshock them," Mr Tom said. "We would try not to hear the crying and screaming. It was awful."

G4S did not immediately comment when contacted by Sky News.

Andy Baker, regional president of G4S for Africa, told the BBC that administering and prescribing injections was not the domain of G4S staff but of a separate medical staff.

When asked about allegations of electric shocks and beatings, he said there had "never been an abuse of this type or nature" to his knowledge.

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Storm: Two People Killed By Falling Trees

Two people have been killed by falling trees in the severe storm which has been battering southern England.

A 17-year-old girl died after a tree fell onto a static caravan in which she was sleeping in Kent.

Paramedics and firefighters attended the scene in Hever, Edenbridge, but were unable to save the teenager.

A tree crashes through several homes in Hounslow Pic: London Fire Brigade

A man in his 50s was killed after a tree fell on his car in Lower High Street, Watford, in the early hours of this morning.

A 14-year-old boy is also feared dead after being swept out to sea on Sunday in Newhaven, East Sussex.

Around 270,000 homes suffered power cuts as hurricane-speed winds of up to 100mph swept across the South West, South, South East, the Midlands and the East of England.

The Dungeness nuclear power station in Kent automatically shut down both reactors after power to the site was cut off.

Gusts of 99mph were recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight, according to the Met Office, while the Environment Agency said some 16 flood warnings and 134 flood alerts were in place.

Winds topped 80mph along southern coastal areas and became turbulent inland reaching 81mph in Portland, Dorset, 75mph in Yeovilton in Somerset and 79mph at Andrewsfield in Essex.

One tree devastated three houses and damaged two others when it fell on a gas main and led to an explosion in Hounslow, west London.

Three people escaped from the properties before firefighters arrived, and an elderly woman was taken to hospital.

Scaffolding has been blown down in Francis Road, Leyton Pic: Mark Davies

Crews rescued a dog from one of the homes and some 12 people were evacuated from neighbouring premises as a precaution following the blast.

Fierce winds overturned a double-decker into a field in Coram Street, Hadleigh in Suffolk, injuring the driver and several passengers.

The driver, a man in his 40s, was initially trapped and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

A police spokesman said: "He was suffering from neck pain, had taken a bash to his head and was in and out of consciousness.

A tree crashes onto a London bus Pic: @Casawa2011

Whitehall was closed in both directions in Westminster, London, after a crane collapsed onto the Cabinet Office which was evacuated.

A helter-skelter at Clacton Pier in Essex was blown over by the storm, but did not fall into the sea.

Rush-hour commuters suffered chaos on the roads and train network, with falling trees and debris blocking roads and covering railway tracks.

Network Rail said: "Trains will not be allowed to run until the worst of the storm has passed and engineers have been able to check railway lines in daylight for fallen trees, branches or any other debris which may have blown onto or damaged the infrastructure."

Damage to power cables across a rail track near St Albans Pic: Network Rail

Several London Underground and train services were suspended, the port of Dover in Kent temporarily shut after gusts of 65 knots were recorded in the area, and more than 130 flights at Heathrow Airport were cancelled because of the weather.

The Environment Agency said there were 12 flood warnings in place across the South West, the Midlands and the East of England. There were also 132 flood alerts telling people to be prepared for flooding.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who held talks with Government departments and agencies at the weekend to ensure they were prepared for the impact of the storm, said the loss of life as a result of St Jude's storm was "hugely regrettable".

He said the Government was working to make sure that the emergency services were able to do as much as possible to provide assistance.

People climb over a fallen tree in Shepherd's Hill, north London

Mr Cameron said: "Any injury or loss of life is hugely regrettable. We have to make sure the emergency services can act as fast as they can to help people."

Sky News Weather Presenter Isobel Lang said: "The worst is just about over. The storm is clearing out into the North Sea, but it is currently bringing 70 to 80mph gusts to East Anglia and Kent. These winds should slowly subside in the next hour."

Some 50mm of rainfall in 12 hours was recorded in Otterbourne in Hampshire and about 44mm in Cardiff.

More follows...

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Storm: Britain Braced For Hurricane-Speed Winds

An amber weather warning has been issued across large parts of England and Wales as a hurricane-strength storm builds over the Atlantic and moves towards Britain.

Meteorologists have warned the fierce winds of up to 80mph and torrential rain  - which will first strike the south-west of England  - could leave a trail of destruction as the storm sweeps north-east across the country, damaging buildings and bringing down trees and power lines.

Frank Saunders, Chief Forecaster at the Met Office, said: "We are confident that a severe storm will affect Britain on Sunday night and Monday.

"We are now looking at refining the details about which areas will see the strongest winds and the heaviest rain."

The storm will intensify very quickly when it reaches the UK

The much-anticipated storm has been named St Jude after the patron saint of lost causes, whose feast day is tomorrow.

Roads may also be hit by flash flooding, bringing rush hour traffic on Monday morning to a halt, and homes could be flooded.

Insurance companies have advised households to take steps to protect themselves and their property.

People should also establish evacuation plans, place valuable items upstairs to limit flood damage and ensure gutters are clear so water can drain away.

The Environment Agency says 20-40mm of rain could fall within six to nine hours.

It has teams working to minimise river flood risk, clearing debris from streams and unblocking culverts, and are closely monitoring water levels so they are ready to issue flood warnings if necessary.

A spokesman said: "Seafronts, quaysides and jetties should be avoided due to the risk of overtopping by waves and wind-blown shingle."

An amber warning is in place across the southern half of England and Wales

Severe weather alerts are in place, with an amber warning, meaning "be prepared", for the southern half of England and Wales.

A yellow warning, meaning "be aware", has been issued for the rest of Wales and England up to the border with Scotland.

Ferry services between Plymouth and Roscof, as well as Penzance and the Isles of Scilly, have been cancelled.

Brittany Ferries, which runs the Plymouth-Roscoff route, said on its website: "We are in the process of contacting all passengers booked on these sailings. We apologise for the inconvenience the cancellation of these services will cause."

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "The storm is coming through at the worst possible time; from around midnight to midday on Monday.

"So Monday morning's rush hour looks like being chaotic with travel and power interruptions anticipated.

"The public are advised to take the greatest care - and to carry a fully charged mobile if travel is necessary.

It has been compared to the Great Storm of 1987

"Winds gusting at 80mph are quite capable of bringing down trees and power lines and causing structural damage.

"Trees are still full in leaf at this time of year and the ground is quite damp so there is more chance they can be ripped from the ground, and branches ripped from trees."

She said Atlantic storms of this type usually develop further west across the ocean, losing strength by the time they reach the UK and Ireland.

But the storm is expected to intensify near to the mainland before it hits the south-west coast with full force, with a strong jetstream and warm air close to the UK contributing to its development and strength.

Some have compared its potential to the Great Storm of 1987 and record-breaking gales in south Wales in 1989.

Veteran weatherman Michael Fish famously failed to predict its severity before it flattened trees, knocked out power and left 22 people dead in England and France.

This time he has warned people to "batten down the hatches" and keep checking the forecasts as the powerful storm approaches.

Darron Burness, head of the AA's flood rescue team, said: "The timing couldn't really be worse, potentially causing significant travel disruption on Monday morning, which is one of the busiest times on the roads."

The Metropolitan Police has urged people to avoid calling 999 during the storm unless there is a real emergency.

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David Beckham Involved In LA Car Collision

David Beckham has been involved in a car collision in Los Angeles but is unhurt, Sky News has confirmed.

His black Range Rover and a white Accura were damaged on Friday near the football star's home.

Photos of the scene showed the white 4x4 with a damaged front mudguard.

The complete front bumper of Beckham's SUV appeared to have been torn away in the impact.

Beckham's 14-year-old son Brooklyn was also in the car at the time.

After the collision Beckham, 38, waited for police to arrive.

"There was an incident on Friday between David and a woman driving a car," a source close to Beckham told Sky News.

It is understood that no action is to be taken against either driver.

"No one was hurt and there was no need for drivers to exchange details," the source told Sky.

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Ten Cars Explode In Baghdad, Killing Dozens

Ten cars rigged with explosives have blown up in Baghdad killing more than 38 people.

The bombs were hidden in parked cars and detonated over a 30-minute period in busy streets, mainly in Shia areas.

In a separate incident, at least 12 soldiers were killed in the northern city of Mosul, when a man driving a car blew himself up outside a government bank.

The soldiers were waiting to collect their salaries, police said. 

One of the wrecked cars is lifted away

At least 100 people were injured in the Baghdad attacks, many hurt as they attended markets.

Hundreds have been killed in Iraq this month, with the often sectarian-fuelled violence reaching its highest level since 2008.

Around 1,000 people were killed and more than 2,000 hurt in September alone, according to the UN.

And unofficial counts for October suggest more than 600 have been killed.

Sunni militants, including the local offshoot of al-Qaeda, are believed to be responsible for the attacks, which usually target Shia areas.

The Shia-led government has been accused of failing to address grievances among the Sunni Arab minority, including allegations of abuses by security forces.

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Miller Redpath: Body Found In Back Garden

Police searching for a missing teenager have found a body in his overgrown back garden.

Public schoolboy Miller Redpath, 18, went missing from his family home in Wenhaston in Suffolk in August.

Suffolk Police said an officer went to the house on Thursday as part of their inquiries and found the body during a search of the garden.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out, however the cause of death remains unknown, police said in a statement.

"At this stage the death is still being treated as unexplained," the statement said.

"Officers have not yet been able to identify the deceased and further tests are required, however early indications suggest that it is the body of 18-year-old Miller Redpath.

"Further searches are taking place at the property and specialist trained officers continue to support Miller's mother at this difficult time."

The discovery comes after Mr Redpath's mother made an emotional appeal for information about her son's disappearance.

"I think he went out purposefully to do something, in order to return shortly, and something went horribly wrong," Anastasia Miller said earlier this month.

"Everything was on track for him as he was doing well at school, he was thinking of London University, had lots of friends and I just don't understand what happened," she added.

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