Technology such as this may dilute the importance of face-to-face banking and, according to banking expert Peter Hahn, of Cass Business School, remove the need for traditional branches altogether.

BBC: Do bank branches just need a makeover?

Individuals need to remove themselves from low-hanging branches and reduce the "domino damage" of one stolen key opening many doors.

ENGADGET: Editorial: Countering ID theft requires better awareness campaigns

Contractors were due to remove the tree on Tuesday but Mr Snow, a joiner from Scarborough, climbed into its branches, preventing its removal.

BBC: The tree in Irton

The utility had more than 1, 600 line workers on the ground to repair electrical equipment and about 1, 200 forestry crews to remove fallen trees and branches.

WSJ: Power Outages May Last Over a Week