Motorist killed as weather chaos hits travellers

A motorist was killed after his car was swept into a flooded river yesterday as Britain braced itself for further damage and disruption from storms.

The lifeless body of James Burnett, 75, was discovered still clinging to the branches of a tree submerged by the swollen River Carron in the Scottish Highlands.

Police believe the retired joiner's car had been swept in to the river by flood waters. He managed to get out of the car but was swept about 20 yards down river where he had held on to the tree until he died. His body was found by his son, Kenneth Burnett, of Ardgay, in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Snow, wind and rain brought chaos on the railways and roads in northern Britain. Last night the busy west coast mainline remained closed after power lines came down near Lockerbie. It was not expected to reopen until tomorrow.

Earlier the east coast route had also been suspended when part of the roof of York station was blown on to cables.

The severe conditions were forecast to continue today before easing off tomorrow. Up to 12in of snow was predicted in the Scottish Highlands.