Power cuts as strong winds hit Harrogate district

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Gusts of up to 60mph were expected today as Storm Darragh passed across the district. Here's what happened.

2.41pm: 'All good' at Harrogate Christmas Fayre

Rob Manley, market manager for events firm Market Place, just called to say the Harrogate Christmas Fayre is still operating as normal, although they're continuing to monitor the situation. The Vision Wheel isn't open today but the Candy Cane road train is — a reader called earlier wanting to know if the road train was running. North Yorkshire Council are responsible for the road train and the wheel.

2.22pm: 105 homes near Ripon lose power

There are now 105 homes north of Ripon without power, according to Northern Powergrid's live power cuts map. Kirkby Malzeard, Grewelthorpe, North Stainlet and West Tanfield are among the areas affected.

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1.42pm: Power cuts in Nidderdale

Northern Powergrid's live power cuts map indicates 37 homes are currently without power in Nidderdale. Nineteen are in the Dacre Banks area. The map also shows ine homes in Wath, near Ripon, without power.

12.26pm: When do the weather warnings end?

Met Office yellow weather warnings are currently in place for wind and rain. The rain warning lasts until 9am tomorrow but wind warnings are active until 6pm tomorrow. 

11.46am: Tinsel tractor run ON

Simon Dickinson, one of the organisers of today's tinsel tractor run, has confirmed the event is going ahead. 

The decorated tractors are due to set off from Tate's garden centre just outside Ripon at 3pm and finish at Riponn Market Square at 6.15pm. You can read more about the event and its timings here. 

11.24am: Current scene in Harrogate

The wind speed has increased slightly buy it's still looking like a fairly normal pre-Christmas Saturday morning in Harrogate. Here's how it looked a few minutes ago at the Christmas fayre. The stalls are open for business but the Vision Wheel is closed.

10.04am: Wind speed expected to increase soon

Nationally, Storm Darragh is already making itself known, with gusts of up to 93mph in Wales. Over 60,000 homes are without power and the Merseyside derby has been cancelled. It is heading east and although we are not expecting such high winds, gusts of up to 60mph are expected by midday. The wind is unlikely to abate significantly until tomorrow morning.

9.54am: RHS closes Harlow Carr gardens and Glow

RHS Harlow Carr has announced on social media its gardens are closed today and tonight's RHS Glow event has been cancelled. But it added:

"However, the garden centre (interior section only) and Bettys Tea Room will remain open as usual."

9.31am: Two out of three local park runs proceed

It seems Harrogate's park run on the Stray and Knaresborough's park run a Conyngham Hall went ahead as usual at 9am this morning. The Fountains Abbey park run was cancelled yesterday as part of a general closure of the Fountains Abbey site today by the National Trust. Christmas events, including Carols by Candlelight and On the hoof, which were due to go ahead today at Fountains Abbey, have been cancelled.

9.12am: Harrogate Christmas Fayre still set for 10am start

Good morning. It's still fairly calm, but winds are due to increase later this morning. Rob Manley, the manager of Harrogate Christmas Fayre from events company Market Place, has messaged to say the fayre is going ahead — for now. But local singing acts have been cancelled.  Mr Manley said: