Man killed by falling tree as Storm Boelo leaves 160,000 properties without power

A 60-year-old man has died after being hit by a falling tree in southern Scotland as Storm Boelo continues to bring severe weather to the UK.

Police Scotland said the man was pronounced dead at the scene following the incident near Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway at about 10:30 on Sunday.

The harsh weather battering the UK had left 161,400 properties without power as of 15:00 GMT on Sunday afternoon, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) said.

Those still without electricity have faced delays as the dangerous conditions were “limiting network engineers’ opportunities to safely start the work”, the ENA added.

During Storm Boelo and the earlier Storm Austen, which hit the UK on Friday, 838,700 properties across the country faced power cuts, according to the ENA.

Wind gusts peaked on Sunday morning at 85mph in Machrihanish, in Argyll and Bute, and 84mph in both Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides, and Capel Curig in north Wales.

An amber wind warning issued by the Met Office will remain in place until 21:00 on Sunday across Scotland and parts of northern England.

A yellow warning that also covers other areas of the north of England, including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as well as parts of the East and West Midlands and North Wales, is in place until 21:00 on Sunday.

The Met Office has urged people to “stay indoors as much as possible”, adding: “If you do go out, try not to walk, or shelter, close to buildings and trees.”

The strongest gusts have continued to spread eastwards across the UK on Sunday.