CIARAN CARNAGE

>> Schools shut, homes wrecked and power cuts >> Storm 'like scene from disaster movie' >> Commuters urged to avoid trains & roads

- DAN WARBURTON

DEADLY Storm Ciaran battered Britain with winds up to 104mph and caused a blackout for 18,000 people yesterday, as forecasters warn of more chaos today.

Roofs were ripped from homes, schools were closed and power was lost as a major incident was declared across parts of the UK.

The storm claimed its first victim after a woman was killed when her car plunged into a raging river on the fringe of Dartmoor.

Families were evacuated from flooded holiday parks, with some rescued in dinghies, as "golf ball-size" hailstones pelted down.

The record-breaking front caused 104mph gales which led to 18,000 homes losing power, with rail lines blocked and ferries cancelled. More downpours are forecast today with 83 flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency.

A yellow warning will come into force from 6am to 6pm for north east England and eastern Scotland, with a chance of flooding and power cuts.

The Met Office has issued another yellow warning for tomorrow, when heavy rain is expected to drench the south coast from Portsmouth to Kent from 3pm until midnight.

Yesterday police launched a probe after a car went into the River Tavy at Roborough, west Devon, just before 10am as the storm hit the region.

Firefighters rescued a woman from the water.

She was rushed to Plymouth's Derriford hospital but declared dead shortly afterwards.

Elsewhere, holidaymakers at Tenby in West Wales and Burton Bradstock in Dorset had to be rescued from flooding.

Chalets at Freshwater Beach Holiday Park in Burton Bradstock were evacuated after huge waves sent caravans heading towards the sea.

Natural Resources Wales said Kiln Park caravan park in Pembrokeshire also suffered major flooding, prompting the owners to ask guests to leave the site.