A 29-year-old woman has died in Wolverhampton city centre after being hit by falling debris during Storm Doris.

She was walking past the Starbucks store in Dudley Street when she was hit with what police have described as "wooden debris", with witnesses saying it was an object "as big as a coffee table".

West Midlands Police said: "Officers are now working with emergency service colleagues and Wolverhampton Council to establish how this tragic incident happened.

"The area remains cordoned off while investigations are ongoing.

"The lady’s family have been informed and are being supported at this tragic time."

Police cordoned off Dudley Street after what they described as a "very serious incident".

Part the city centre was also sealed off near Marks & Spencer, close to the entrance to the Mander Centre, amid fears that metal from the top of a building could come loose.

Two ambulances, as well as the Midlands Air Ambulance, were called to the scene.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said the woman had sustained "very serious head injuries" after a piece of debris fell onto the street.

A spokesman said: “Sadly, it quickly became apparent that there was nothing that could be done to save her and she was confirmed dead at the scene.”

He added they had received fifteen calls to the incident, which happened just before 11:45am.

In a statement, Starbucks said: “We are shocked and saddened by this terrible incident. We are supporting the police with their investigation and our store will remain closed until further notice.”

Darlington Street, Junction Road, Red Lion Street and Lichfield Road at the junction with Princes Square, are also all closed in the city.

It came as the Black Country along with many parts of the UK were battered by Storm Doris which brought winds as high as 94 miles an hour, with several roads partially blocked or closed completely.

West Bromwich High Street was shut due to fears over building debris, while Dunsley Road in Kinver, Farley Lane in Romsley, Priory Road in Dudley and Orton Lane in Wombourne were among the roads closed due to fallen trees.

A fallen tree also caused misery for commuters heading out of the Black Country into Staffordshire on the M6 Northbound, with two lanes closed off between junction 12 for Gailey and junction 13 for Stafford South.

Railways were also affected across the West Midlands, with some services delayed or cancelled.

Services were suspended on the Worcester to Birmingham line, which passes through stations including Kidderminster, Stourbridge Junction and Cradley Heath, while the Stourbridge Shuttle, which operates between the Junction and Stourbridge Town was also halted after a tree fell onto the line, according to the Shuttle's Facebook page, with bus replacement services and free taxis taking passengers to destinations, while local operator London Midland said it was "strongly advising people against travelling" today.

The company says it will accept all valid tickets for travel today (Thursday) on services operating tomorrow (Friday).

The high winds also forced the closure of Dudley Zoo, which announced it had decided not to open today, along with the Black Country Living Museum.

A statement on its website said: "Due to potentially dangerous high winds, the Museum will be closed today. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope to re-open as normal tomorrow."

A spokesman for the zoo said it also intend to re-open on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, Halesowen Town Football Club revealed that strong winds blew over and badly damaged the pitchside dugouts used by team management and substitutes during matches at its ground, The Grove, in Hawne Lane.