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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Ellen Kirwin

Fallen trees, power cuts and cancellations caused by Storm Franklin

Severe weather has brought chaos to transport networks today with rail services cancelled and major roads closed.

Many train operators, including Northern Rail and Merseyrail, have urged passengers not to travel as lines are blocked by fallen trees and flooding caused by Storm Franklin.

Northern has cancelled all morning trains in the North West and warns disruption could continue throughout the day.

READ MORE: Storm Franklin live updates as roads closed, plane makes emergency landing and tree falls on track

A spokesperson tweeted: "Due to the severe weather and numerous incidents, caused by Storm Franklin, we will be terminating all services in the North West.

"No further trains until at least 10.30, and this might be extended.

"Do not attempt to travel, do not head to stations as there are no alternatives."

A car damaged by a fallen tree after high winds and wet weather in Liverpool (PA)

Other operators urging passengers not to travel include CrossCountry, Southeastern, TransPennine Express and Avanti West Coast.

On the roads, some stretches of motorways have been closed throughout the morning due to crashes caused by the storm.

The M6 was closed in both directions, between J27 and J28, after a lorry crashed and caught fire.

Police reported that the HGV was blown by high winds into a motorway bridge and then went up in flames.

Lorry caught fire after being blown into bridge on M6 (Lancashire Police)

The driver, a man in his 40s, managed to escape his cab with help from other motorists and was rushed to hospital with serious head injuries,

While National Highways said the M60 in Greater Manchester was closed between junctions 10 and 11 due to an overturned HGV which had come to rest on the central reservation.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue reported saving a number of people from stranded cars on the A61 at Harewood Bridge, with more reports of roads left impassable due to flash flooding across the region.

In Merseyside, a number of roads have been closed due to fallen down trees.

Road closures include Wavertree Nook, Astmoor Road, Copplehouse Lane, Pine Avnue, Moor Lane and Newton Road.

There are also reports of trees down in parks including Greenbank Park, Sefton Park and Central Park.

In Liverpool city centre, Old Hall Street and Union Street has been closed by Merseyside Fire and Rescue service due to panelling falling from a building.

Tree surgeons clear away a fallen tree after high winds and wet weather in Liverpool on Stanley Park Avenue South (PA)

A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue service said: "Some panelling has fallen from a building on Union Street.

"We’re staying on scene until the arrival of Highways who will take over the road closures."

While in parts of Ormskirk and Lancashire power cuts have been reported.

The outage is affecting areas such as Parbold, Scarisbrick and Halsall.

A spokesperson has said: "This power cut has been caused by an unexpected incident on the high voltage cable that provides electricity to your home or business.

"We didn't know before your electricity went off that this was going to happen but now we know, rest assured we will get your power back on safely and as quickly as possible."

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