Trees flattened, houses damaged and cars destroyed by gales

TIMBER: an enormous beech tree smashed into this car and three others when it was uprooted in Uppermill

FEROCIOUS winds wreaked havoc across Oldham yesterday as falling trees smashed cars, chimney stacks rocked and roof tiles flew off in fierce gusts.

Amazingly, emergency services reported no injuries — but householders were left counting the cost after several near misses.

A Ford Focus was destroyed in Uppermill after a gigantic beech tree came crashing down.

The uprooted giant, which had its roots on the path running alongside the river, crashed over a wall and fell on to the roof and bonnet of the car, lifting its front wheels feet of the ground and leaving it suspended in mid-air.

The branches also smashed into three other cars parked at the far side of a second wall, after it was ripped out of the ground by strong winds at 11.30am yesterday.

Earlier in the day, Joyce and Stuart Wild were woken by a tremendous crash at their end-terrace house in Spring Lane, Lees. The top part of their gable end had fallen on to a car.

Mrs Wild said: “We heard a horrendous crash and a rumble and the people from across the road were hammering on the front door. It brought the street light down. ”

The two incidents were just part of the mayhem taking place across the whole of Oldham.

Oldham Council’s First Response Team received more than 90 emergency calls starting at 2am yesterday. Most related to fallen trees and dangerous chimney stacks. Many roads were blocked until crews could clear debris.



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