Storm Boelo sees passenger plane leave runway

High winds caused a passenger plane to momentarily leave the runway at Birmingham Airport as Storm Boelo brought disruption across the West Midlands.

Jet2 said flight LS1310 from Venice moved off the runway after landing on Sunday afternoon due to "exceptional weather conditions" caused by the storm.

The airline said the aircraft immediately returned to the runway and later taxied to its stand, with all passengers disembarking normally.

Railway services have also been disrupted across the region, with trees blocking lines and causing cancellations.

A spokesperson for Jet2 said: "Flight LS1310 from Venice to Birmingham temporarily moved off the runway after landing at Birmingham Airport earlier this afternoon, due to exceptional weather conditions caused by Storm Boelo.

"The aircraft immediately returned to the runway and has now taxied to the stand. We can confirm that everyone has disembarked as normal."

CrossCountry trains between Birmingham New Street and Nuneaton have been cancelled due to a tree on the line. The operator said tickets could be used on other services and it had requested rail replacement buses.

West Midlands Railway services between Four Oaks, Birmingham, and Lichfield Trent Valley, Staffordshire, were cancelled in both directions due to a downed tree, although the line has since reopened.

Transport for Wales services between Cardiff and Shrewsbury have been cancelled, while disruption has also been reported between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury.

Elsewhere, a tree fell onto a car overnight in Moor Street, Coventry.

Hundreds of homes were left without power on Sunday morning, with power down in Bromyard, Herefordshire, and Drakes Broughton and Tilesford, Worcestershire.

On Sunday afternoon, more than 100 homes in Burford, Worcestershire also experienced power cuts, as well as more 77 homes in Bickenhill, Birmingham, 109 in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire, and 141 properties in Upper Cotton, Staffordshire.

Flood alerts across the region include the Severn Vyrnwy confluence in Shropshire, and the River Wye in Herefordshire.

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had been attending "multiple calls" due to gazebos and other garden items being blown away and causing damage to electrical infrastructure, like solar panels.

"To avoid further incidents, please double check that everything in your garden is secure, and put away anything that might get taken by the strong wind," it said on Facebook.

In Shropshire, Forestry England said its Haughmond Hill site would remain shut on Sunday.

Severn Valley Rescue, an animal rescue centre near Bridgnorth, said it would close, due to "high winds, fallen trees and intermittent electricity" threatening health and safety.

All National Trust sites in Herefordshire are shut on Sunday - with the firm saying they would reopen on Monday after post-storm checks.

Wild Zoological Park in Bobbington, Wolverhampton, said it would close after being "absolutely battered by wind".

In a post on social media, it said: "We've got falling branches and a keeper has already been hit (but is ok)."

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