Homeowners in Glasgow have been counting the cost of stormy weather, after a 70mph wind lashed the city in the last 24 hours.

The west of Scotland experienced something of a downpour as well as gale-force winds, underlining once more the threat of inclement weather to properties across the country.

Following the summer floods which left homeowners and the home insurance industry struggling to cope with a deluge of claims as property and contents were damaged, news that Scotland is again suffering serves as a reminder of the need to prepare for such situations.

Weather forecaster Julian Mayes told the city's Evening Times that it was likely that damage would be sustained in some quarters.

"It's almost certain that some power lines will come down at the peak of the storm," he commented.

MeteoGroup's Nikki Berry agreed, telling the paper: "There is the potential for some damaging gusts."

Research following storms last year showed that 1.5 million homes in the UK faced damage to roofs as a result of high winds, costing £4.5 billion to repair.

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