09/12/11
By Shane Gladstone
Forecasters have said that the extreme storms which battered Britain on Thursday will calm down over the coming days.
Scotland and northern England have been the worst-affected areas, with hurricane winds crippling power networks and forcing schools to shut their doors.
Met Office figures showed that on Thursday, 165mph winds were recorded on the summit of the Cairngorms in Aberdeenshire.
But people in affected areas have been offered some respite after 24 hours of battening down the hatches. The worst of the weather will now focus its attention upon north-east Scotland and the Shetland Isles, according to forecasts.
Flash flooding hit parts of the Lake District, with emergency services rescuing stranded motorists in Ambleside, Windermere, Troutbeck and Selside.
People whose property has been affected by the storms have been urged to register any home insurance claims as soon as possible.
The Association of British Insurers advised people to make use of round-the-clock phonelines and to arrange temporary repairs ahead of their cover taking effect.
Nick Starling, ABI's Director of General Insurance, said: "Damage caused by high winds is an integral part of property insurance. Insurers expect bad weather to strike, and their priority will be to ensure that anyone who suffers damage gets their claim dealt with as quickly as possible."
