Britain is bracing itself for a second night of storms after 100mph winds left three people dead in road accidents and a fourth after a wall collapsed.

Thousands of people are facing a second night in darkness as engineers battle strong winds to restore power to homes.

North Wales, Cheshire, Northern Ireland, northern England and south-west Scotland were worst hit

Gusts of up to 80mph are again forecast to affect Wales and the West Country tonight.

An air and sea search for the five-man crew of a trawler which went missing in the Irish Sea on Christmas Eve has been called off.

The French 50ft vessel Toul an Trez is believed to have sunk 35 miles off the coast of West Wales.

Wreckage believed to be from the boat's wheelhouse was found floating near where an emergency beacon was seen. Coastguards said rescuers would resume the search at first light on Friday.

Falling trees brought down power cables

North Wales, Cheshire, Northern Ireland, the north of England and south-west Scotland and north-west England were the areas that suffered the worst damage as storms swept across Britain on Christmas Eve.

In Ireland a man died when a wall collapsed as winds gusting at more than 100mph lashed the south-west of the country.

Hundreds of roads were blocked

Numerous roads were closed by fallen trees and flying masonry.

Police are urging travellers to use extreme caution. They warn the storm poses a real threat to anyone venturing out and unnecessary journeys should be postponed.

Tragedy strikes home over the holidays

Police have been inundated with calls as wind ripped tiles from buildings and brought down lamp-posts, power cables and trees.

More damage is expected

On Merseyside in north-west England, two people were killed in separate road accidents on Wednesday night.

In the first, a 32-year-old woman motorist from Stoke-on-Trent died when a large tree crashed onto her car. The second death came in a multiple pile-up on the north-bound M53 motorway.

The accident, which involved at least 10 vehicles, was caused by a tree falling into the road.

Emergency service groups were inundated with calls

A spokesman for the Merseyside police force described the situation as "chaotic".

A 19-year-old man, in Waterville County Kerry, was killed and his brother injured when a wall collapsed as winds gusting at more than 100mph lashed south-west Ireland.

The man who died was trapped in rubble when the wall of a dance hall was blown down at the height of the storm. His brother escaped with only slight injuries.

A motorcyclist also died on a road in North Wales.
 

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