Storm Ciarán: Seven people killed and dozens injured in Europe

Torrential rain and 200km/h winds force schools to close and airlines and train companies to halt services

At least seven people were killed and dozens injured as Storm Ciaran battered north-west Europe with torrential rain and winds of up to 200km/h (124mph), damaging homes and forcing schools to close and airlines and train companies to halt services.

A truck driver was killed by a falling tree in the Aisne departement of northern France, authorities said on Thursday, while more than 1.2 million people lost their electricity supply including about half the population of Brittany.