Europe experiences deadly Storm Eleanor havoc

Storm Eleanor has brought chaos to Europe, after first hitting the UK with 100mph (160kmph) winds and heavy rain.

After sweeping across the North Sea, the winter storm has brought destruction to northern Europe, disrupting transport, causing power cuts and killing one skier.

France, Germany, Switzerland and Netherlands have all been pummelled by the heavy winds and rain.

Two people drowned on Spain's northern Basque coast after being swept away by a huge wave.

In France, which was recovering from Storm Carmen which hit on New Year's Day, a 21-year-old skier was killed by a falling tree, and at least 15 others were injured in storms in northern and eastern areas of the country.

The top deck of the Eiffel Tower in Paris has been closed to the public due to winds of over 50mph (80kmph).

Power was lost in around 225,000 homes in northern France.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="498"] Debris from a roof in Stuttgart, Germany.[/caption]

Christened Storm Burglind in Germany, roofs were ripped from homes and transport was disrupted when the country was hit by gusts of more than 75mph (120kmph).

A train was derailed by wind in Switzerland, injuring eight people.

Trees fell onto power lines, resulting in a loss of power to thousands of homes.

The front carriage of the Montreux-Oberland Bernois railway train was also pushed off tracks near Lenk by strong gusts of wind.

A spokesman for the train company said: "I have never seen anything like it".

Swiss broadcaster SNF reported record wind gusts of 122mph (195kmph) on Pilatus Peak near the city of Lucerne.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] A road becomes a river in Saint-Malo, northwest France.[/caption]

Strong gale warnings were issued across the country resulting in flights and ferry services being cancelled, and roads closed.

A light airplane was overturned in Stans, and vehicles were blown over on major motorways.

A 13m (42ft) tall Christmas tree was snapped by the wind at Bern railway station, but no injuries were reported.

Dutch air traffic was disrupted by gusts of 75mph (120kmph) causing over a fifth of flights to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport to be cancelled.

All five major sea barriers to prevent flooding in the Netherlands' lowlands were also closed by authorities – the first time this has been done.

In the British Isles, Ireland's west coast caught the brunt of the storm, with Galway hit by winds of up to 96mph (155kmph).

Homes and businesses on the Republic's west coast suffered flood damage and around 27,000 dwellings were left without electricity due to the storm.

Eleanor is now heading for the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, with experts warning of potential 124mph (200kmph) gusts.