The managing director of Birmingham Airport was killed today when a branch smashed through his car windscreen as ferocious storms battered Shropshire and Mid Wales.

Richard Heard, 49, pictured, who lived near Bridgnorth, died on the B4373 Bridgnorth to Broseley road when a branch fell from a tree and smashed through the window of the silver BMW X5 4×4 he was driving at about 5.45am.

Mr Heard’s colleagues at Birmingham International Airport said in a statement: “Richard was a wonderful man who brought strong leadership with a human touch.”

A second driver in his 30s, travelling in the other direction, also collided with the branch but was not injured.

Heavy rain and 65mph winds brought chaos to the region, leading to dozens of road closures. Some 2,500 homes and businesses were also left without power.

In south Shropshire, a fallen tree brought chaos to the school run outside Church Stretton School while in Ludlow scaffolding crashed to the ground outside a property in Gravel Hill.

A lorry was hit by a tree on the A49 at Longnor at around midday today. The driver was uninjured.

Wind shattered giant panes of glass at the showroom of Inchcape Volkswagen on Featherbed Lane in Shrewsbury, damaging two cars.

Sarah Evans, of Inchcape, said the wind smashed through the panes at around 11.45am today.

The main road through Gobowen was cut off by flooding near the railway station.

The Shrewsbury to Chester railway line also closed after a train hit a tree near Chirk. No-one was hurt but the line was closed until the debris could be removed.

A major rescue operation was launched after the crew of a sinking British cargo ship abandoned the vessel in storm conditions.

The ship, the MS Napoli, was listing about 50 miles off the Lizard, Cornwall. All 26 crew left the ship, which has a hole in one side and a flooded engine, in a lifeboat.

See also – Storm chaos photo gallery

By Lisa Rowley and Oliver Cartwright