Thousands lose power as roads and rails are hit

More than 70,000 homes without electricity amid shut bridges and derailed trains

More than 70,000 homes were left without power across Scotland as Storm Ali battered the country.

Scottish Power said 58,000 homes had no electricity, while SSE said 13,000 had experienced cuts.

Around 33,200 remained without a supply last night, with the south-west being the worst hit.

Emergency services were called to rescue a man who became trapped beneath a digger in a river during strong winds.

The incident happened at around 10am at Rogart, in the Highlands.

He was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured rib.

Tug boats were called to the aid of the Nautica cruise ship after it slipped its berth in Greenock.

Strong winds saw the vessel – which had 478 passengers and 26 crew – leave the dock after its mooring lines parted. There were no reports of injuries. Most trains from Glasgow and Edinburgh were suspended due to the weather, while other services throughout the country were also affected. All vehicles and pedestrians were stopped from using the Forth Road Bridge, while the Queensferry Crossing was shut to high-sided vehicles and double-decker buses.

The Clackmannanshire Bridge was also closed to high-sided vehicles while restrictions were put in place on the Skye Bridge due to strong gales.

Part of the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway, near the Collin bypass, was blocked for about an hour due to a fallen tree.

The Highland main line was shut by rail operators after a freight train was derailed during high winds. The northbound service struck tree branches and left the track near Culloden around 1.40am.

A spokesman said specialist engineers and lifting equipment would rerail the engine and reopen the line as soon as possible.

Some bus services were suspended, as was part of the tram line in Edinburgh, due to the weather.

Sections of Princes Street and South Bridge Street in Edinburgh were closed due to debris falling from roofs in strong winds.

Meanwhile, South Bridge Street was shut between Chambers Street and the High Street after lead fell from the Tron Kirk at around 12.10pm.

There were no injuries in either incident.

Cathedral Street in Glasgow was also closed for some time due to falling debris.

Motorists were urged to take care. North-east road policing inspector Neil Morrison said: “I would urge all motorists to drive carefully and with caution, especially on country roads where potential hazards could be around corners.”

Historic Scotland also announced the closure of many of its properties for yesterday, including Edinburgh Castle.

The unsettled weather is due to last for several days but an improvement is expected early next week as drier weather is set to take hold.

Ali is first on the storm names list for 2018-19 announced by the Met Office and Met Eireann, which has run the Name Our Storms scheme for four years. The season’s names have been compiled from a list of submissions by the public.

I would urge all motorists to drive carefully and with caution. INSPECTOR NEIL MORRISON

Pictures: PA. Clockwise from left: debris in Co Galway where a woman died after her caravan was blown off a cliff; a fallen tree on part of the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway and the cruise liner Nautica as it sits in water off Greenock after breaking its moorings.