BBC weather update at 1900GMT

Gale-force winds are predicted to lash Northern Irleland and the Irish Sea, while more snow is expected in central and south Scotland.

In the latest emergency operation 34 workers were evacuated from a North Sea oil structure after it was damaged by the weather.

The non-essential workers were taken off the Ramforth Banff, 90 miles east of Aberdeen, as a precaution by two RAF helicopters, coastguards said.

High winds and floods have led to seperate tragedies across the country.

A five-year-old boy died after his mother's car swerved in a gale to avoid fallen branches - and was in collision with another vehicle.

River search: Rescuers search the Ashburn

Mark Huxley, of Whitchurch, Shropshire, was travelling with his mother Gillian through Eglwys Cross, North Wales, at 1000GMT on Saturday when the accident happened.

They were both taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

The body of a man who fell into a river during Boxing Day storms has been recovered by rescue teams.

Paul Witt, 44, was last seen at the bottom of the garden behind his home at Ashburton, Devon.

Electric lines are down across the UK

His body was found in the flood-swollen river Ashburn half a mile south of the town.

Police are still searching for the body of a man who was swept out to sea off the coast at Brighton in East Sussex after apparently going for a swim.

BBC Correspondent Linda Duffin: Scenes of havoc wreaked by high winds

The 27-year-old man was confirmed dead on Saturday night after being swept out to sea near the Palace Pier.

Gales gusting up to 100mph battered the British Isles on Boxing Day with Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic the worst affected.

A number of roads were closed by falling trees and more than 50 flood warnings are still in place in the West Country.

But Linda Alcock of the Environment Agency in Exeter, said water levels are falling. There were also flood alerts on a number of rivers in Wales where flooding hit homes.

A man died in the Republic when a falling tree crushed his car.

The clear-up operation in Wales has already begun

The 23-year-old man died in Maam Cross, County Galway. He was with his girlfriend who escaped uninjured.

In the Solent a 4,300 tonne Portuguese ship sent out a Mayday signal to coastguards after getting into trouble near the Isle of Wight.

Two tugs went to the aid of the unladen Zaphia which was towed out to deep water anchorage where it was waiting to enter port.

The AA's Michael Johnson: "Scotland and Northern Ireland took a real pummelling"

Power lines have been damaged or have come down in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and north-west England and repair work is being hampered by poor driving conditions.

In Scotland, thousands are still without electricity supplies on Sunday after falling trees brought down cables.

The spire of St Stephen's Church in Glasgow was blown down

The Forth and Tay road bridges have reopened, but many roads remain closed due to flooding, snow or fallen trees. Train services are also severely disrupted.

Forth coastguards went to the aid of a bulk carrier after it broke down in the Firth of Forth and was in danger of drifting toward the shore.

And at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, a brick turret was toppled by the wind, crushing two cars underneath.