Transport and businesses across Merseyside were brought to a near standstill by Storm Doris.
The Port of Liverpool closed down its operations due to winds of up to 100mph on the city’s waterfront as the storm battered the UK on Thursday morning.
High winds also forced Aintree Racecourse to close their Big Top arena, where Gandeys Circus were due to perform, in the interest of customer safety.
Liverpool One’s Bear Hunt exhibition was another business severely affected. The children’s attraction has been permanently discontinued due to the extent of damage inflicted.
Rail suffered severe disruptions as regional train operator Northern cancelled all its hourly routes between Lime Street and Wigan North Western.
Trains from Hunts Cross, West Kirkby and between Birkenhead and Hooton were suspended while Mersey Ferries have halted its river service for the day.
Fallen trees also caused major disruptions on the region’s roads, including at the Kingsway tunnel heading towards Liverpool and for motorists using Aigburth Road.
An uprooted tree caused serious injuries to a man in his 60s when it fell in Crosby while a woman was also injured when her car was hit by one in Huyton, the North West Ambulance Service have confirmed.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport encountered minimal disruption to its flight schedule with only routes to and from the Isle of Man grounded.
Police closed off the Strand at its junction with Water Street due to debris falling in the road.
The high winds also saw substantial damage at a car park in Cleveland Street, Birkenhead after an adjoining wall collapsed, causing several cars to be showered in bricks.