Storm Henk: Woman struck by tree, hundreds flee holiday park and travel chaos as strong winds hit UK

  • Weather

ITV News reports on the storm from Bridgend, London and Stratford-upon-Avon

By Rachel Dixon, Multimedia Producer

A woman is in hospital after being hit by a tree and hundreds of people were evacuated from a holiday park due to flooding fears, as Storm Henk brought 80mph winds to the UK.

The storm also brought on power cuts, transport troubles, and property damage on Tuesday to parts of southern England, the Midlands, East Anglia and Wales.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed a woman was struck by a tree in Station Approach, Orpington.

She was taken to hospital, with non life-threatening injuries and her family has been informed.

Winds of 70 to 80mph are likely on exposed coasts in the west, with gusts of 50 to 60mph expected inland.

Drone footage shows floodwater across holiday park Billing Aquadrome

Holiday park Billing Aquadrome in Northamptonshire was forced to evacuate around 1,000 residents and holidaymakers off the site.

Hundreds of people could be seen streaming, both in cars and on foot, from the entrance of the site at Great Billing.

In Wales, a danger to life flood warning has been issued near the River Ritec in Tenby, with 18 further flood warnings in place across the country, including the River Ely at Peterston Super Ely, the River Cadoxton at Dinas Powys, the River Hydfron and Llanddowror.

Flooding in Acaster Malbis near York. Credit: PA
The Irish Ferries Isle of Innisfree leaves the Port of Dover in Kent. Credit: PA

Rail lines are blocked and road diversions have been put in place in Wales and across the UK as the stormy weather worsens.

Trains between Plymouth and Exeter St Davids are being delayed due to flooding on the lines in Totnes while lines between Swindon and Bristol Parkway were flooded, leading to services being cancelled or delayed.

Some of the worse disruption is happening at The Dartford Crossing, between Essex and Kent, where the QEII Bridge is shut due to "excessively strong winds".

Drivers are being warned of two-hour delays on the approach to the QEII Bridge.

Rivers have burst their banks and train services have been brought to a standstill as Storm Henk batters the Midlands. Credit: PA
A tree blown over by the wind and crashed into the portico, knocking it down in Tooting, south west London. Credit: PA

In Wiltshire, the River Avon burst its banks in Bradford-on-Avon, flooding roads and threatening homes and businesses.

'Widely wet' conditions are forecast to sweep much of the UK. Credit: PA
A swan passes a litter bin after the river Severn burst its banks in Worcester. Credit: PA

Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said: “At the moment it does look like a lot of that rain will push across the vast majority of England and Wales, turning widely wet once again throughout Tuesday.”

He added: “Parts of south-eastern, eastern Scotland should hold on to some slightly brighter periods for the bank holiday but it is going to be very wet and windy once again for the Northern Isles, Orkney and Shetland.”

There will also be a north-south contrast in temperatures ranging from between 8C to 13C but it will feel chillier in the wind and rain.

A yellow weather warning for rain and another for wind is in place through to Tuesday at 9pm

It states: “Over the warning period, 15 to 30mm rain is likely to fall fairly widely, with a few places seeing 35 to 50mm.

“The worst of the rain should clear southwestern areas of England and South Wales by around the middle of Tuesday but could last into the evening across the north-east of the warning area. Strong winds will affect parts of the area.”

It says, “very windy conditions are likely to quickly develop” over south-west England and southern Wales on Tuesday morning and then spread eastwards across southern and some central parts of England.

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