Biker dies as gales fell trees

Storms chaos: Forecasters predict more to come as high winds and snow wreak havoc on roads and at sea

Severe weather returned yesterday with high winds and driving snow causing at least one death. A man was killed when his motorcycle smashed into a fallen tree near Iver, Buckinghamshire.

The rider, in his 30s, was catapulted from his machine and ambulance crews were unable to save him. Trees brought down by winds gusting to 50mph disrupted trains and road traffic.

Winds of up to 70 knots prevented cross-Channel ferries entering Calais. At one point five Stena Line and P&O vessels that had sailed from Dover were forced to wait off the French port before docking.

In Scotland, snow caused most problems, although the fall was not as bad as predicted. Temperatures hovering at just above freezing were brought down to minus 10C in bitter northerly winds.

Thirty people were evacuated from the Norfolk village of Walcott after sea defences were breached. Their houses escaped flooding and they returned later, but the village was on alert for further flooding last night.

A spokeswoman at the London Weather Centre said snow showers were likely to return tomorrow along with more high winds.