Storm leaves homes without power and cars wrecked

Storm Boelo has uprooted trees which have smashed into cars and left tens of thousands of people without powers as it blows across the North West.

SP Electricity North West said thousands of homes had been hit by power cuts caused by strong gust of winds, with more than 500 homes affected in Blackpool and 200 in Wigan alone.

More than 400 people had to be evacuated from a caravan park near Preston, Lancashire, and a family day race meeting at Merseyside's Aintree racecourse has been cancelled.

Grandmother Lisa Roberts said she had been left in tears after a tree fell on her car in Heysham, Lancashire.

Roberts told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We had just sat down to watch Strictly - there was a lot of noise outside but you expect that when it's windy.

"But suddenly there was an almighty noise and my husband went out and said 'it's a tree - it's landed on the car'.

"It smashed through the sunroof and the windscreen.

"It's not what we expected on a Saturday night [but] my five-year-old grandson did predict it.

"He said earlier 'look at that tree nana - it's going to fall over'."

She said nobody was injured.

Aintree racecourse said its Halloween Fun Day had been "abandoned due to high winds" after it reported gusts of up to 44mph.

In a statement, it said: "While we are disappointed, the safety of our participants, visitors and teams is our number one priority."

Bates pumpkin farm in Warrington, Cheshire, also announced it had shut for the day as the "50mph gusts are not safe to be on the farm".

Visit Liverpool announced its River of Light event, featuring illuminated artworks, had been cancelled "in the interests of safety".

Gusts of more than 70mph have been experienced in many areas and large waves have battered the coast.

The Met Office said Storm Boelo could bring a danger to life from flying debris and crashing waves and people should stay indoors as much as possible.

Trams have been cancelled in Blackpool due to heavy rain and high winds, while Avanti West Coast has advised people not to travel north of Preston.

TransPennine Express said a tree fell on the line between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly, causing major delays.

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