Woman killed by falling tree amid severe storms

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A woman has been killed, and two others were injured, when a large oak tree fell in storm-lashed Exeter.

Sky News reports that the tree fell across a wall and on to the roadway, near the junction of Western Way and Barnfield Road in Exeter, Devon.

The 21 year-old woman had been living in a small tent sheltered against a wall at the roadside. She was trapped by the tree at around 11.50pm on Saturday night.

Inspector Andrew Webber of Devon and Cornwall Police told Sky News: "It was a very large oak tree that had been there for... many years. Obviously we've had lots of heavy weather, it's been raining an awful lot, and the tree for whatever reason came down.

"It's taken a wall with it when it came down, and then on top of that the tent was underneath and the tree has fallen on to the tent.

"There are two males involved with minor injuries and obviously a poor lady of 21 who received fatal injuries at the time."

The Environment Agency has issued two severe flood warnings, which means that there is "serious threats to life and property" in the South West.

BBC News reports that severe flood warnings were issued for Lostwithiel, Helston, Polperro and Perranporth in Cornwall and people were urged to leave the homes - but the situation is now said to be improving.

Cornwall Council duty director David Owens told BBC News that the situation was starting to improve "quite considerably."

He said: "We've had quite an evening of it and significant flooding problems in several settlements but we're getting through the worst of it now."

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