Storm Aileen: Road closures and delayed trains in West Midlands and Staffordshire

Storm Aileen, the first named storm in the UK this year, swept through the country last night with winds reaching speeds of up to 75mph.

In the West Midlands and Staffordshire, rail users between Birmingham and Lichfield are warned to expect delays for most of the day as the storm swept an object onto overheard electric wires last night, leaving some of the lines blocked this morning.

On the roads, Bratch Common Road in Wombourne was left blocked between Bratch Lane and Clap Gate Road because of a fallen tree. Tree surgeons attended around 8.30am.

A second fallen tree in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, blocked the Perton Road between Wightwick Bank and Old Lane, while a third on Stow Heath Lane was blocking a pavement. Another was later reported near the fire station in Walsall Wood.

There had been delays on the A454 Willenhall Road in Wolverhampton due to a fallen branch partially blocking the popular route but this was cleared by 7.30am.

Wolverhampton council confirmed it had its teams out early in the morning to address the issue of fallen trees, including one on Alexandra Road in Penn.

Staffordshire Police was forced to close a number of routes in the county due to damage left behind by Storm Aileen.

In Burntwood, Hunslett Road was closed due to debris this morning, while the Friary in Lichfield was also closed this morning from the Bowling Green Island while a tree was being removed.

The severe weather warning put out by Highways England yesterday is to last until 9am this morning, with drivers being urged to take care on the roads.

Roads in the West Midlands and Staffordshire got off lightly compared to the rest of the UK, with the M48 Severn Crossing in South Gloucestershire closed in both directions because of the high winds, while the Humber Bridge in East Yorkshire had to be shut to high-sided vehicles.

Other closures across the country included the Ouse Bridge on the M62 between junctions 36 and 37.