Storm-lashed Oldham

photographer Alf Huntington (70) took this picture of the fallen tree.

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A 30ft tree clipped a parked car as gales, torrential rain and hail blew it down as they battered the borough yesterday.

Neighbours in Bleasdale Street, Royton, awoke yesterday to find the tree straddling the road.

Resident and keen photographer Alf Huntington (70) captured the scene caused by the storm — which also ripped off his garden gate.

He said: “The tree was in the road and had caught the back end of the Nissan Micra. If it had fallen the other way, it would have landed on bungalows, so it was a lucky escape for all.”

In Oldham Road Denshaw on Monday night a lorry was blown over by the wind. It was left overnight for the lorry company to recover it.

Chronicle reader Geoff Bayley captured this shot of the stricken vehicle the next morning.

Wild weather with winds gusting up to 70mph battered Greater Manchester during Monday night and the early hours of Tuesday morning. Some areas were left white with rain and driven hailstones.

The bad weather is expected to last for most of today