These amazing pictures show the moment a huge wind turbine erupted in flames after it was struck by hurricane-force winds in Scotland.
Local photographer Stuart McMahon from Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, snapped the fireball as it wrecked the turbine earlier this afternoon.
Stuart told ClickGreen tonight the blades on the 100m-tall mast had been braked and were not turning as the ferocious winds swept across Scotland.
“It was clear that the turbine caught fire first and the flames spread to the covering of the blades,” he said. “There was debris still on fire being swept off in the wind and across the fields.
“These are huge structures and to see one on fire was a spectacular sight.
“The fire must have lasted for about 15 or 20 minutes until the fire brigade turned up to put it out.
"The blades are now turning freely in the wind and the turbine is spinning around on the mast."
The Ardrossan wind farm was sold by Scottish and Southern Energy to Infinis last year for £54 million. It comprises of 15 turbines with the capacity to power about 29,500 homes.
A second wind turbine was also brought crashing to the ground near Coldingham Village in the Border region.
Other parts of Scotland were bruised and battered by the hurricane-strength winds that the Met Office confirmed reached an incredible 165mph on the Cairngorm summit.
Police warned the public to stay indoors as uprooted trees and flying debris blocked several major roads and railways lines and Scotland's three main airports were forced to cancel more than 100 flights.
The Police had warned against all travel across central Scotland until at least 7pm this evening and the severe weather warning was extended to 2am on Friday morning in north east Scotland and the Grampian region.
Schools and colleges had been closed for the day after the Met Office upgraded it's severe weather warning advice overnight.
Mike Barnard, Sao Paulo around 1 month ago