Tories pledge ‘removals force’ to deport illegal immigrants

The Conservative party is set to announce a new “Removals Force,” aiming to deport 150,000 individuals annually to curb irregular migration into the UK.

Plans unveiled on Sunday detail £1.6 billion in funding and “sweeping new powers” for the force, including facial recognition without warning to identify illegal immigrants.

This body is expected to “integrate closely” with police, who will be mandated to conduct immigration checks on everyone they stop or arrest.

The proposal draws inspiration from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, which the Conservatives describe as a “successful approach” to removals.

But ICE has also been heavily criticised in the past year, accused of arresting both legal migrants and US citizens and targeting people based on their race.

The proposal forms part of the Conservatives’ “Borders Plan” announced at the start of the party’s annual conference on Sunday.

Immigration is set to be one of the key themes of the annual gathering, with “Stronger Borders” one of two slogans hanging from the front of the conference centre in Manchester.

Some 34,401 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year, according to PA news agency analysis of Home Office figures, putting 2025 on course to break the record for most arrivals in a single year.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “We must tackle the scourge of illegal immigration into Britain and secure our borders.

“That is why the Conservatives are setting out a serious and comprehensive new plan to end this crisis.”

Along with the Removals Force, the plan includes a radical overhaul of the asylum system which would see refugee status granted only to those threatened by a foreign government.

Those fleeing conflict or “less tolerant” laws on religion or sexuality would not be eligible, with the party saying “few people will qualify”.

The plan will also see the immigration tribunal abolished, with all decisions on migration taken by the Home Office with only limited rights of appeal in cases where officials have acted without statutory authority.

Immigration cases will be denied legal aid, with the Conservatives accusing solicitors of having “defrauded” the UK by “coaching” applicants and arguing there is “no need for lawyers” as people “should simply tell the truth about their circumstances”.

The plan follows the Tories’ announcement that they would look to leave the European Convention on Human Rights if it won the next election, arguing the treaty had “frustrated the country’s efforts to secure its borders and deport those with no right to be here”.

It also comes as Mrs Badenoch faces continued pressure on her right flank in the shape of Reform UK, which has already pledged to leave the ECHR and deport up to 600,000 people over five years if it comes to power.

She said: “Reform have nothing but announcements that fall apart on arrival. Our Stronger Borders plan is serious and credible and backed by a comprehensive legal analysis.

“That is the difference the next Conservative government will deliver.”

She also accused the Government of offering “failed gimmicks”, including its one in, one out deal with France – dubbed “one thousand in, one out” by Mrs Badenoch – that has so far seen just 18 people returned after crossing the Channel.

Vance piles on Democratic candidate who likened rival to Hitler

JD Vance and other Trump administration officials have joined calls for the Democratic candidate in Virginia’s attorney general race to step down after text messages were unearthed in which he suggested his political opponent was worse than Hitler and should be shot.

The vice president, as well as other Republicans including Speaker Mike Johnson and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, condemned the “abhorrent” messages sent by Jay Jones to another delegate in 2022.

“The Democrat candidate for AG in Virginia has been fantasizing about murdering his political opponents in private messages,” Vance wrote on X. “I’m sure the people hyperventilating about sombrero memes will join me in calling for this very deranged person to drop out of the race.”

Vance was referring to the backlash against Donald Trump after the president posted an AI video to his social media depicting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wearing a sombrero and sporting a large mustache. Critics have called the video “vulgar” and “racist,” though Vance said that Trump had been “joking.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson called for Jones to “immediately withdraw his candidacy” saying the messages were “plainly disqualifying for anyone who aspires to public office.”

“There is no conceivable justification for wishing violence against a political opponent and their children. Mr. Jay Jones should immediately withdraw his candidacy, save himself and his party from further embarrassment, and take some time to reflect,” Johnson wrote.

In a text exchange with fellow delegate Carrie Coyner in 2022, Jones said that in a hypothetical scenario in which he had a gun and two bullets in a room with Adolf Hitler, Cambodian dictator Pol Pot, and Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, he would choose to shoot Gilbert twice.

“Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time,” Jones said, according to the National Review.

“It really bothers me when you talk about hurting people or wishing death on them,” Coyner, a Republican, replied.

Despite multiple calls for him to drop out of the AG race, Jones has refused so far to do so. In a Friday interview, Jones admitted that his text messages about Gilbert were “abhorrent” and apologized, but said Virginians deserved a leader who would “accept when they’ve made mistakes.”

At the time he sent the text messages, Jones had just stepped down from his position as a state delegate representing Norfolk, Virginia. He announced his campaign for Attorney General in November 2024 and went on to the Democratic primary in June.

In the same exchange, Jones reportedly suggested that Republican lawmakers needed to experience their children dying to change their policy views. He also described the Gilberts as “evil” and “breeding little fascists.”

Speaking to ABC Friday, Jones addressed the messages, saying that such violent rhetoric had “no place on our landscape” or in public discourse. “I sincerely and from the bottom of my heart, want to express my remorse and my regret for what happened and what I said that language has no place in our discourse, and I am so remorseful for what happened,” he said.

Jones said he had been in touch with Gilbert and his wife, who were “angry and furious” about the messages.

“What I said was unacceptable, and I accept responsibility for that, and I want them to know, and I want the people of Virginia to know that I am so deeply, deeply embarrassed, and that I understand the gravity of what I said, and I am so apologetic for it,” he said.

On his comments about Gilbert’s children, Jones added: “I’m sick to my stomach when I read those words. And certainly they’re objectionable, they’re abhorrent. They have no place in Virginia, no place in this country’s discourse.”

However, despite his apologies, Jones said he would be continuing with his campaign for state attorney general.

“Virginians, I think, want and deserve and expect leaders who will accept when they’ve made mistakes, when they have aired, and again, I have not ever claimed to be perfect,” he said.

“I don’t think any of us are, but I’m before the people of Virginia, offering my apology and offering my word that I’m learning and growing from all of this.”

It comes amid growing concerns about political violence and extreme rhetoric, in the wake of the assassination of conservative youth activist, Charlie Kirk, last month. A recent poll found that more than 70 percent of Americans believe that political violence is now a “severe problem.”

As well as Vance and Johnson, Youngkin said he was outraged by Jones’ remarks and unconvinced by his apology. “This violent, disgusting rhetoric targeted at an elected official and his children is beyond disqualifying,” Youngkin wrote online X.

“There is no ‘gosh, I’m sorry’ here. Jones doesn’t have the morality or character to drop out of this race, and his running mates Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi, and every elected Democrat in Virginia don’t have the courage to call on him to step away from this campaign in disgrace.”

‘If this was Heston, we’d hail it as genius’: Inside Greggs’ first pub

Ever had a hankering for a cold pint of beer that tastes just like a glazed jam doughnut? No, me neither.

But in The Golden Flake, the pub just opened by the seemingly unstoppable bakery chain, Greggs, anything is possible.

The quirky pop-up in Fenwick’s department store in Newcastle is the sort of place that might have been conceived by Willy Wonka – if he’d bought a little boozer on his retirement from the confectionery trade.

Certainly one of its signature beers, the Pink Jammie Pale Ale, brewed in honour of Greggs’ famous doughnuts of the same name, was just too weird for some customers – though to be fair, the more you drank the less you noticed the cloying sweetness.

There’s a more basic brew on the pumps alongside the Jammie – the Gosforth 1939 Stottie Lager, this one with a strong hint of another fabled Geordie delicacy, the stottie cake (a flat bread bun to those who have never had the pleasure).

Most customers, however, have come for the food, a gentrified version of the simple fare available in Greggs’ 2,600 stores across the UK.

I ordered a steak bake mixed grill (£12.50) which consisted of Greggs’ popular pasty, a fried egg draped over the top, a side order of chips and a grilled tomato. The arrival of a gravy boat was confusing – had it been brought by mistake to the wrong table?

Reassured by the smiling server, I found myself wondering when the last time had been that I poured gravy over a fried egg. Conclusion: Never, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. If this had come from Heston Blumenthal’s test kitchen we’d probably be hailing it as genius.

The next dish to arrive was the sausage roll and mash. This was not the “sickly sausage roll” that Gazza sang of in his post-World Cup rendition of Fog on the Tyne – no, this was a posh sausage roll. You knew it was posh because it was cut in two on the diagonal and propped up vertically against the mash, a scattering of dried sage leaves across the gravy giving a final flourish.

Those leaves were doing some heavy lifting because this dish cost £9, in comparison to the £1.50 you’d have paid for the same sausage roll in a paper bag from the non-fancy Greggs 20 yards away.

But was anyone carping about the price? Emphatically no – the tables started filling up as soon as the Golden Flake opened its doors at 11am on a sunny midweek morning.

Ryan and Lesley Coutts were having a date day, Ryan enjoying a Stottie Lager and Lesley an Orchard Pig cider. Had either tried the Pink Jammie? Ryan gives an involuntary shudder and confirms the bar staff were happy to give out samples to the briefly curious.

The young parents’ choice of venue was a nod to Ryan’s gran Mary Youern, aged 84, who was an employee at one of Greggs’ first stores, in Washington, Tyne and Wear.

Ryan, 32, said: “Greggs is such an institution in the North East and my Nana is proud of her association with it.

“She was offered shares many years ago but decided on a £1,000 bonus which took her and grandad off on a fantastic holiday to Italy.

“Given what’s happened since, the shares might have been a better option, but they were happy.

“They also get 50 per cent off Greggs food for life so you can’t complain about that either.”

Lesley, 31, said: “The Golden Flake is really nice, the decor reminds me a bit of Beamish Museum, it’s very quirky.”

With a nod to a collection of Toby jugs grinning down from a high shelf, she adds quietly: “And a bit weird.”

Pat Grainger, on a day out from the Grangewood Care Home in Shiney Row, near Sunderland, enjoyed her meal. She said: “We had a sharing platter between four of us and it was lovely, especially the sausage rolls, you can’t beat a Greggs and they’ve done this place up lovely.”

Malcolm Harrison, 72, and his wife were celebrating the 40th birthday of their youngest daughter, Stacey.

Malcolm said: “We’re having a family party tonight but this seemed a nice place to come for a bite during the day, we’ve just had sausage rolls and fish goujons and a drink.

”People in the North East are very proud of Greggs, it hasn’t just become a national concern, it’s now an international brand. We’re very proud of our sausage rolls in this part of the world.”

Ian Hall, 65, and wife Jean, 69, just had starters. Mr Hall said: ”We always come into town on a Tuesday and we’ve heard a lot about this place so we wanted to try it out. I’ve had the chicken goujons with chilli honey, it was very nice.

“Greggs just seems to be getting bigger and bigger and I really like the way they’ve done out their own pub.”

The Golden Flake will remain open until February next year and will operate like any other Newcastle pub, even hosting quiz nights on a Tuesday evening.

On Sundays it serves what it terms a “traditional” Sunday carvery, though at the centre of all the trimmings – cauliflower cheese, roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings – will be a choice of steak bake, chicken bake or cheese and onion bake.

Fenwick’s store director, Kieran McBride, told The Independent: “It has been quite overwhelming in terms of response. It is our third collaborations with Greggs but this has been the biggest so far.

“Both Fenwick’s and Greggs are famous names in the North East and we’re delighted to be working together so well.”

Robbie Williams cancels his final show of tour due to ‘public safety’

Former Take That singer Robbie Williams has been forced to cancel the final show of his Britpop tour “in the interests of public safety”.

Williams, 51, was due to perform at Atakoy Marina in Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday, October 7, but posted on Instagram on Saturday to tell fans he was “extremely sorry” to have to cancel the concert.

He said: “City authorities have cancelled the show, in the interests of public safety.

“The last thing I would ever want to do is to jeopardise the safety of my fans – their safety and security come first.

“We were very excited to be playing Istanbul for the first time, and purposely chose the city as the final show of the Britpop tour.

“To end this epic run of dates in front of my Turkish fans was my dream, given the close connections my family have with this wonderful country.

“To everyone in Istanbul who wanted to join the 1.2 million people who have shared this phenomenal tour this year with us, I am deeply sorry. We were so looking forward to this show, but the decision to cancel it was beyond our control.”

The Sun report the gig was cancelled over fears of threats in Turkey due to his support for Israel, where he has played gigs in the past.

Williams is married to Ayda Field Williams, a Turkish-born woman with a Jewish mother.

He will perform his smallest ticketed gig, at Camden’s Dingwalls venue in London on Thursday, running through his upcoming album Britpop, which is yet to be released, in full, with his first solo LP, Life Thru A Lens.

He began the tour in May, performing in cities including London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Helsinki and Athens.

After leaving Take That in 1995, Williams released his chart-topping debut album in 1997, and has achieved seven UK number one singles and 15 UK number one albums.

The albums include I’ve Been Expecting You (1998), Sing When You’re Winning (2000), Escapology (2002), Intensive Care (2005) and Rudebox (2006).

Liverpool don’t make sense and latest loss points to something bigger

Just when the stage seemed set for a launch moment from Liverpool’s new stars, Chelsea’s great hope provided one. Just when the Premier League champions looked like they could snatch another stoppage-time winner, Estevao gave Chelsea what their late siege deserved. Liverpool got what was coming. This was of course the second time in a week that they have lost 2-1 to a late goal, to make it a third successive defeat.

Liverpool are now very much in a classic Premier League crisis. Chelsea are out of one, as Enzo Maresca almost symbolised with that Jose Mourinho-style run down the touchline to celebrate the winner.

That resulted in yet another red card, this time for the manager himself, but it’s hard to think that anyone will care too much about that. Everything is now so much clearer at Chelsea going into the international break.

That doesn’t just apply to results. It’s also how they got there.

As the game ticked into the final half-hour, and Liverpool were building some momentum following Cody Gakpo’s equaliser, Maresca knew exactly what he had to do with his substitutes. That’s all the more impressive given that Slot himself mentioned after the game that Chelsea had eight players out, and it could be a “positive” for them.

Instead, Romeo Lavia started to stem midfield, and ensure Chelsea were driving forward again. Jorrel Hato offered a required stability in defence. Estevao, from 75 minutes, was ready to seize the occasion.

There were more than enough occasions when the young Brazilian seized the ball from a Liverpool player lax in possession, something that was a feature of the game.

Against that, Slot’s changes seemed to cede the game. They finished with two midfielders in the back four. That just can’t work in a match in the balance like this.

People can of course point to available personnel, and the pattern of the game, but there is maybe something much bigger.

This Liverpool don’t yet make sense in the same way. When you look at the available players, and particularly the expense of the new attackers, it’s actually hard to see what the obvious best formation is.

Florian Wirtz, initially dropped, is used at the tip of midfield but hasn’t yet physically adapted to the position in this league. Mohamed Salah seems to be missing Trent Alexander-Arnold, and hasn’t yet synced with a changing frontline. From all that, the balance of the team looks wrong, and opposition sides can run right through their centre.

This was what happened with Moises Caicedo’s sensational opening goal. The strike was superb and seemed to pick up speed as it rocketed towards the top corner, but that was in considerable contrast to how easy Liverpool made it for him by opening up the space. Caicedo was able to slip past Alexis Mac Allister and even take another set-up touch before he struck.

Liverpool shouldn’t have allowed it.

There are multiple caveats to this, of course, which is why we obviously aren’t talking about a true “crisis”. Isak will obviously get fit and come good. Wirtz will adapt. Liverpool will instantly start to look better, and Slot’s new formation will be more easily facilitated. It shouldn’t be forgotten this is also a team coping with grief, after the Diogo Jota tragedy.

And they’re still just a point off top.

But that comes after being five points clear a few weeks ago, and after so many warning signs.

All of this was coming. It’s always the other side of late goals, too, in how a regular need for them at once showcases character but also flaws.

Liverpool are now suffering the other side, in how they’re starting to concede such moments.

Hence, all of these caveats can co-exist with the fact the team doesn’t look right at the moment. It doesn’t make sense.

The disconnect could be seen in the number of basic bad passes. Over half the team were responsible for such moments, sometimes playing the ball several yards beyond intended targets or straight out of play.

There was an irony to one of those touches actually setting up Liverpool’s equaliser. Isak attempted to take the ball under control, only to divert it towards goal. Gakpo took the chance.

The greater significance is that there was a randomness about it. Liverpool look like a team looking for connections rather than knowing them.

Hence more contrasts like Salah offering one brilliant ball for Isak, but also so many bad finishes; or Wirtz producing that sublime turn to set up the Egyptian but then do little else.

Right now, rather than collective integration, they’ve got individual instinct. Slot did reference some of the possible reasons for this after the game, as he said that the Champions League schedule ensured he didn’t have the same time to train.

He also insisted that a draw would have been much more deserved.

Maresca might have said otherwise, but his red card ensured he couldn’t speak to media. To give Chelsea their due, too, it is often said there’s an element of this “randomness” about their recruitment. The squad doesn’t seem to be built towards the same vision that Liverpool’s does.

And yet, as this game entered its crucial stages, it was Maresca that had a better idea of what to do.

Malo Gusto had already been an early masterstroke in midfield. Chelsea went man-to-man when Liverpool were attacking, but Gusto often did the work of multiple men.

Then, when Maresca had to change, despite limited options, he had a clarity. Estevao had a focus. Afterwards, all eyes were on him. His run for that winning goal was a natural follow-on from an all-energy display.

Liverpool, despite the ampleness of their attacking options and extravagance of the summer spending, seemed short of ideas. They were mostly relying on rushes and moments.

A coach as good as Slot is of course almost certain to fix this. The sudden risk is that Arsenal, after so much doubt, can go on the kind of run that Liverpool did last season.

Slot may now be enduring the other side of that, too. The breaks aren’t coming. It isn’t fitting in the same way. This, consequently, was a scrambled late Chelsea win that still made a lot of sense.

Eats, Beats and Storied Streets: A journey through Louisiana

Few places in America are as spellbinding as Louisiana. Streets are alive with music, every table groans with food that tells a story, and every river bend reveals landscapes as mysterious as they are beautiful. Whether you’re dancing to zydeco in Lafayette, devouring beignets in the French Quarter, or gliding through the Atchafalaya swamps in search of alligators, this is a destination which offers travellers an unforgettable blend of rhythm, flavour and culture.

Music that Moves You

A seemingly never-ending party, a stroll through the bouncing streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter is one of America’s most thrilling sensory experiences. Guitars crunch, symbols crash and horns howl on every street corner, from Bourbon Street to Frenchmen Street. This Cajun corner of the US has a deep heritage too, and the Preservation Hall – dating back to 1961 – is an essential stop. With its intimate time-worn walls and wooden chairs facing the small stage, it’s a shrine to New Orleans jazz and every note should be savoured.

But Louisiana’s music tradition goes far beyond the Big Easy. Beginning in 1981, the Baton Rouge Blues Festival is one of the country’s oldest blues festivals and the state capital is a haven of Cajun music. It’s also the home of the swamp blues, so to hear the best of these laid-back rhythms, spend a foot-tapping night at Phil Brady’s Bar & Grill or Henry Turner Jr’s Listening Room. And for a little backyard boogie from local Louisiana musicians, try and hit the wonderfully chilled out Bee Nice Concert Series.

One of the more niche regional sounds is zydeco, and these infectious beats driven by accordions and washboards are perfect for dancing the night away. Over in Lafayette, the lush outdoor Hideaway on Lee and the charming Blue Moon Saloon host high-energy zydeco and Cajun jams. For a deeper dive into this unique music of the swamp, drop by the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles for three glorious days of Cajun, Creole, and zydeco sounds.

Flavours to Savour

Louisiana has one of America’s most distinct food cultures, with Creole dishes like gumbo and jambalaya not found anywhere else. Needless to say, the fiery flavours found in these creations are sublime and it’s no surprise that 2025 is Louisiana’s Year of Food.

With its rich broth, often featuring a roux base and embellished by juicy shrimp and thick sausage, gumbo is arguably the quintessential Creole dish. If you’re in New Orleans, look no further than no–frills downtown spots like Coop’s Place or head out to neighbourhood joints like the upscale Gabrielle Restaurant who serve a smoky take on Cajun-style gumbo or the dense dishes plated up at Liuzza’s by the Track. And if you’re so enraptured by this unique stew, then learn how to make it at home at the New Orleans School of Cooking.

A Cajun rice dish that originated in southern Louisiana in the 18th Century, Jambalaya is also iconic down here and can include meats, vegetables, seafood and spices in its mouthwatering mix. The Jambalaya Shoppe is dotted all around southern Louisiana and is a good place to start, though make time to visit Gonzales – the ‘Jambalaya Capital of the World. It even has its own Jambalaya Festival every spring.

Remember to make time for sweet treats though, as Louisiana’s beignets are something special. Warm, deep-fried pastries dusted with powdered sugar, these gentle delights are the perfect cafe snack. Open since 1862, the Cafe du Monde is an iconic French Quarter spot to watch the world go by with a beignet and café au lait.

And if you’re here for Mardi Gras, make sure to sample the sweet colourful King Cake as the jaunty floats pass by.

Culture and the Great Outdoors

Louisiana’s diverse cultural heritage is as unique as its landscape. French, Spanish, African, Caribbean and native influences all converge into Cajun and Creole identities and that’s most famously reflected in the state’s sublime cuisine. But don’t miss the great outdoors, as Louisiana’s biodiversity is enchanting too.

Acadiana’s humid moss-cloaked swamps and bayous are one of America’s last wildernesses, and boat tours of these serene and ethereal landscapes are unforgettable, especially if you spot wildlife like American Alligators, beavers, herons, eagles and white tail deer. The Atchafalaya Basin, just east of Lafayette, is a particular haven and several airboat tours depart from here, including McGee’s Swamp Tours and Last Wilderness Swamp Tours.

Road trails through these bayous can be just as inspiring, and the Bayou Teche National Byway tells stories. Running for 183 miles from Arnaudville down to Morgan City, this serpentine route passes by ornate antebellum homes like Shadows-on-the-Teche, tranquil fields of sugar cane, breezy swamps and historic towns packed with friendly cafes, zydeco dancehalls and local museums.

Look out for the region’s lively 400+ festivals too, which often celebrate Louisiana’s local culture. The Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette celebrates the links between Acadiana and the Francophone world, through music, art and food, while the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival in Opelousas aims to preserve Louisiana’s most gleeful music genre. And there’s no better way of learning about the state’s people and heritage than at the various tours, concerts, talks and cultural events held in Vermillionville in Lafayette.

Dozens injured after Putin’s forces strike Kyiv-bound passenger train

Volodymyr Zelensky says at least 30 of civilians have been injured in a “savage” attack on a passenger train in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region.

Russia’s attack had targeted a railway station and a train heading to Kyiv was hit, regional governor Oleh Hryhorov said. The governor posted a picture of a burning passenger carriage.

It comes after Russia carried out its biggest attack yet on Ukrainian gas facilities on Friday, according to Ukraine’s largest national oil and gas company.

Naftogaz said Russian forces had launched the largest strike on its gas production facilities since the start of the invasion in 2022, causing “critical” damage.“Facilities in Kharkiv and Poltava regions were hit with 35 missiles, many of them ballistic, along with 60 drones,” they said in a statement.

Russia’s Vladimir Putin warned Donald Trump on Thursday that the US risked “a new stage of escalation” if Washington provides Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles.

Meanwhile, Munich Airport resumed services earlier on Saturday, after it was shut down for the second time in less than 24 hours over suspected drone sightings.

Tens of thousands without power as 90mph winds batter UK

Storm Amy has caused widespread disruption across the UK and Ireland for a second consecutive day, leaving thousands of homes without power and forcing the closure of parks, railway lines, and ferry routes as winds of up to 100mph batter parts of the country.

The Met Office had issued a yellow wind warning for the entire UK, with an amber alert in place for northern Scotland, where “damaging” gusts exceeding 90mph have been recorded.

A yellow warning for northeast Scotland has been extended to midday on Sunday.

Scotland and Ireland have been the worst affected, with power cuts continuing across the Highlands.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), the distribution network operator for the north of Scotland, said 42,000 homes remained without power on Saturday afternoon. The company said hundreds of additional team members are working on SSEN’s response to the storm.

In Northern Ireland, NIE Networks said 50,000 properties had been cut off.

In Moray, northeast Scotland, a man was airlifted to safety after he was stranded on a sandbank on the River Spey near Garmouth. The coastguard said he was winched off the island by Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 151 from Inverness and flown to a place of safety. He was said to be safe and well.

Meanwhile, several buildings collapsed and some cars were hit by fallen trees.

On Saturday morning, ScotRail said about 80 trees had been brought down on lines and engineers were checking routes before resuming services. All services out of Glasgow Central were suspended.

Network Rail has said teams were “working around the clock” to repair extensive damage caused by Storm Amy. It said more than 170 separate incidents have been reported so far.

Royal Parks confirmed that all of its sites in London, including Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, and St James’s Park, were closed due to “severe wind gusts”.

In a statement, Royal Parks said: “Due to severe wind gusts caused by Storm Amy, all of the royal parks, plus Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens will be closed on Saturday October 4. This closure includes all park roads and cycleways, cafes and kiosks, parks sports venues, the Serpentine lido and boating lake, and the royal parks shop.”

The Met Office also confirmed that a new UK record for the lowest pressure in October had been set. Storm Amy showed a central pressure of 947.9 hectopascals (hPa) at Baltasound, Shetland, breaking the previous record of 950.9hPa set in 1988.

The agency said the weather will remain wet and very windy in northern Scotland, while elsewhere winds will slowly begin to calm. On Sunday, the strong winds will continue to ease, the Met Office said.