Britain's insurers face a massive claims bill for vehicle glass after one of the worst storms to hit northern England and Scotland in a decade, Autoglass has said.
The windscreen repair and replacement company said it had recorded record levels in vehicle glass damage caused by the severe gales.
It has estimated that insurance companies will face a three-fold increase in claims made, in the first week of the storms alone.
Autoglass has flown fitter squads into the worst-hit areas and mobile service vehicles are driving north to help cope with the sudden increase in demand.
Support teams have been drafted in to answer phones in the customer contact centre, which has been inundated with calls from drivers whose vehicle glass has been damaged.
Autoglass added that weather experts had predicted more misery for drivers and their insurers.
It said the environment agency still had 23 flood warnings in place in parts of Wales, the Midlands and north west England and strong winds were expected to continue during the week.
