The East Coast main line was shut down for four hours yesterday after high winds forced the closure of York railway station.

Hundreds of people had to be evacuated from the station after corrugated iron was blown off the roof, crashing onto an overhead power line.

The accident affected passengers travelling with GNER, Arriva Trains Northern and Virgin.

All trains in the area were halted just after 2pm, as experts investigated the scale of the damage.

Power supplies to the overhead line were cut while the debris was removed, and normal service was not resumed until after 6pm.

The West Coast main line was also closed north of Carlisle after a tree brought down power lines near Lockerbie.

Elsewhere, strong cross-winds forced police in the region to impose a 50mph speed limit on the A1, while several high level routes were closed for a time to high-sided vehicles.

In Scotland, a son discovered his elderly father, apparently dead, still clinging to trees after his car was swept into a river in Sutherland.

A Press Association Weather Centre spokeswoman said strong winds and wintry showers overnight were expected to lead to some drifting of snow.

Further wintry showers are expected today, although the winds should ease.

Snow will only settle on higher ground, and it will be milder tomorrow with rain.