Falling tree kills child

Village tragedy as 66mph Ellen lashes Britain

A CHILD has died after being struck by a tree that was toppled by strong winds as Storm Ellen battered the UK.

The tragedy in the village of Bobbing in Kent left another child seriously injured, amid gusts of up to 66mph.

Yet more gale-force winds are forecast to hit the country this week as a front of unsettled weather continues to come in from the Atlantic.

Scotland is bracing itself for a deluge of rain tomorrow, with forecasters warning of a blustery day.

Today is to remain mild and dry for most across Scotland before the worst of the weather arrives.

Strong gales have been forecast by the Met Office for much of the country, with the mercury barely rising to 14C (57F).

However, by Wednesday temperatures will be closer to the average for the time of year, with some north of the Border experiencing close to 20C (68F).

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: ‘Another deep area of low pressure looks like affecting the UK on Tuesday and Wednesday, with another wet and very windy spell likely.

‘Even once the deep area of low pressure moves off the scene, there are signs of especially windy weather into Friday.

‘It looks particularly unsettled in a changeable week ahead.’

Stephen Keates, also from the Met office, added: ‘Scotland is going to see some rain through Tuesday and may suffer a glancing blow from another system coming through on Thursday.

‘The southern half of Scotland will be wet on Tuesday, not vast sums but still 20-30mm (up to an inch) of rain.’

There were more problems on Scotland’s transport network yesterday when a landslide closed the railway line between Glasgow and Edinburgh at Shotts in Lanarkshire. Passengers were encouraged to use alternative services to and from Glasgow Queen Street Station.

Homes were left without power and roads were closed as Storm Ellen, the first named storm during the summer holidays, battered the country.