Storm Babet: Sunderland University closes St Peter's Campus

Sunderland University’s St Peter’s Campus on the banks of the River Wear has been closed down due to the “ongoing adverse weather conditions”.

The site will be closed on Friday and throughout the weekend with a planned open day on Saturday also cancelled.

Read more: LIVE: Storm Babet continues to batter region causing traffic and travel chaos

In November 2021 Storm Arwen battered the coastal campus with roof panelling being torn off its media centre causing months of disruption.

A spokesperson for the University of Sunderland said: "Due to the ongoing adverse weather conditions, the University's St Peter's Campus has been closed to staff and students. There will be no access to the campus today or over the weekend.

"The University’s City Campus remains open as normal.

"This means that unfortunately we are having to reschedule the Open Day at St Peter’s that was planned for tomorrow, Saturday 21 October and we are in the process of contacting everyone booked to attend.

"The Open Day at our City Campus is going ahead as planned."

The University is yet to confirm whether its buildings have been damaged, or whether the move is precautionary.

It comes as Storm Babet continues to batter the region.

In South Shields the lighthouse at the mouth of the Tyne lost its dome in the strong winds and rough seas overnight.

Meanwhile the Cleveland Centre shopping mall in Middlesbrough lost part of its roof overnight.

Amber warnings for wind and rain have been issued for parts of northern England, the Midlands and northern Wales from noon on Friday to 6am on Saturday.

Read next:

• Police called to Darlington primary school after boy, 10, brings in concealed knife
• Man arrested as police investigate unexplained death of woman
• When will Storm Babet end? Here's what the Met Office is forecasting

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According to the Met Office forecast, the extreme weather is set to die down from 1pm on Saturday (October 21), where the likelihood of rain will fall from 50% to 10%.

In Scotland two people have died after the storm hit with unprecedented flooding in some areas.

Police Scotland said a falling tree hit a van near Forfar in Angus on Thursday evening, killing the 56-year-old driver. A 57-year-old woman also died on Thursday after being swept into a river in the county.