Storm Doris has claimed its first victim after a woman died when she was hit by a piece of roof the "size of a coffee table".

The storm embarked on its destructive path across Britain, with gusts of nearly 80mph, cancelled flights and commuters warned of delays.

The pedestrian was confirmed dead at the scene outside Starbucks in Wolverhampton city centre after suffering "very serious head injuries", West Midlands Ambulance Service said.Rebecca Davis, a 40-year-old teacher from Wolverhampton, walked past shortly after the incident at around midday and saw a woman receiving CPR.

Rebecca Davis, a 40-year-old teacher from Wolverhampton, walked past shortly after the incident at around midday and saw a woman receiving CPR.She said the woman - who looked to be aged "between 20 and 30" - appeared to have been hit by something resembling a piece of

She said the woman - who looked to be aged "between 20 and 30" - appeared to have been hit by something resembling a piece of roof which had fallen off a building nearby."I think the wind broke it and caused it to fall. I don't know if it was hit by something else or just the wind did it," she told the Press Association.

"I think the wind broke it and caused it to fall. I don't know if it was hit by something else or just the wind did it," she told the Press Association.She said that while the woman had been hit "right outside Starbucks", it was unclear if the debris had fallen from the coffee shop or from a nearby building.

She said that while the woman had been hit "right outside Starbucks", it was unclear if the debris had fallen from the coffee shop or from a nearby building."I don't think anyone else was hurt. It was a big piece about the size of a coffee table but I think it just hit her," Mrs Davis said.

"I don't think anyone else was hurt. It was a big piece about the size of a coffee table but I think it just hit her," Mrs Davis said.

Forecasters have said the weather system is likely to damage buildings, send debris flying and bring down trees.

A 79mph gust was recorded in Gwynedd, North Wales, at 8am as Doris started to make its way east across the country, with the system later declared a "weather bomb" by the Met Office.

Senior meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said there will be "very strong winds and gales", and the centre of Doris will "track out to the North Sea at around lunchtime".

A jack-knifed car transporter on the M80 near Banknock during early morning snowfall.

He added: "The whole system will still be over the UK, right through the afternoon. The winds then will start to ease from the West through this evening."

Amber warnings predicting strong winds and heavy rain are in place for North Wales, the Midlands, the East and the North West and have been extended to include the London area.

The Met Office's amber warning alerts people that "whilst the strongest winds look to be only short-lived, damage to structures, interruptions to power supplies and widespread disruption to travel networks are likely, with a danger of injury from flying debris".

Gusts of 60mph-70mph are likely in affected areas, with 70mph-80mph expected on coasts and hills.

Storm Doris was branded a "weather bomb" after the system underwent "explosive cyclogenesis", the Met Office said.

"It has gone through what they call explosive cyclogenesis - so a deepening of 24mb in 24 hours," a spokesman said.

"Storm Doris is still Storm Doris, it does not mean it is necessarily any more severe than we had forecast already."

Aer Lingus cancelled 12 flights between the UK and the Republic of Ireland and Heathrow Airport has warned customers to check their flights before travelling.

Network Rail has warned of delays and cancellations after imposing speed restrictions.

The are 50mph limits on some services run by Southeastern, Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern Railways, Grand Central, TransPennine Express and Virgin Trains East Coast.

Britain is expected to be battered by winds of up to 80mph at the storm's peak and Highways England has issued a weather alert on major roads.

Particularly at risk are high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorbikes, and drivers are "strongly advised" to avoid travelling on some stretches of road in Yorkshire, the Midlands, the East and the North West.