Stalybridge resident on 'crazy' moment tornado blew neighbour's roof off

Residents in a tornado-hit town in Greater Manchester have described the "crazy" moment the extreme wind caused vibrations through windows, blew roofs off and forced their neighbours to leave their homes.

The "localised tornado" which hit during Storm Gerrit left around 100 properties damaged in Tameside, with some homeowners forced to leave, though police said nobody was injured.

Greater Manchester Police said it received "numerous reports" at around 11.45pm on Wednesday, and the force declared a major incident due to the "severity" of the damage caused and the potential risk to public safety, while Tameside Council said approximately 100 properties were evacuated after the "mini tornado" hit areas of Carrbrook and Millbrook.

Matthew Marsland, who lives opposite some of the badly-damaged homes, said he heard a "crazy noise" and "vibrations through the window" for about 30 seconds when the freak weather event hit. He told the Manchester Evening News (MEN) he went into the street to pick up some debris after and noticed a gutter lying in the middle of the road, then noticed his neighbour's roof had been destroyed.

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He said: "I heard extreme noise at my back window. I was stood at my patio door and there was just basically a crazy sounding noise and then vibrations through the glass. I looked out of the window and saw a bit of debris so I thought I'd go out and pick a few bits up...Then I saw a piece of tree next to my neighbour's car, then I looked further along the street and saw a gutter in the middle of the street so I thought I'd go and pick that up, and then I saw my neighbour had had half his house torn off."

Marsland said the whole incident lasted "25 to 30 seconds", adding: "Two or three minutes later the entire estate was on the street, and we were just wondering what would happen next. I wouldn't have had time to react even if I had wanted to - and then before anything had happened it was all over."

Rachael Jones, 44, who lives on Granville Street in Millbrook, said: "I was in bed last night, and it just sounded like it was a really bad hail storm. I could just hear lots of things flying about, I just stayed in bed because I was so scared. This morning I looked outside and it was like a warzone. All the slates off the roofs of my house were off, chimneys down the street have come off, my car's been written off and all the aerials are down, it's unbelievable."

Another resident said: "I was woken in the night by some huge bangs. At first I thought a house must have exploded or maybe a plane had come down. When I looked out my window in the morning I couldn't believe it.

"All the cars parked down my road were covered in bricks and had smashed windows. The house at the end of the street had had the gable end torn off and you could see right inside their loft. The force of the wind was just unreal."

'Amazed' nobody hurt

Shocking pictures show houses with gaping holes in their roofs while dozens of cars were battered by falling bricks, trees and debris. In one street, a tree smashed through a roof causing some residents to be evacuated by the emergency services.

Graham Yates, 50, said: "There was a tree outside that must be at least 70 or 80 years old but it was literally torn out by its roots. The tornado caught most people by surprise. You heard the word storm but never expect to wake up the next morning to see carnage outside.

"My neighbour's garden literally had five people's wheelie bins in it. They'd just blown right over the wall. I'm amazed no one was hurt or worse. If anyone had been stupid enough to be outside at midnight they'd have been toast."

Also caught up in the storm was Tameside councillor Dave Sweeten, who told the MEN that he had "never heard any winds like it". A spokesperson for the council said: "It is believed everyone affected made arrangements to stay with family and friends overnight. Our officers have been out all night and continue to be out today clearing debris, fallen trees and making roads, footpaths and other areas safe."

Chief Superintendent Mark Dexter, from Greater Manchester Police, said: “This incident has undoubtedly affected numerous people in the Stalybridge area with many residents displaced from their properties during the night.

"Our highest priority is keeping people safe which is why we are advising those who have been displaced not to return or enter their properties which have significant damage until they have been assessed by structural engineers.

"I would also like to urge members of the public to avoid the area where possible and take extra care when travelling in vehicles on the roads in Stalybridge and the surrounding areas, due to debris in the road."

He said police would update people when they had more information and thanked the local community for their cooperation and patience."

What happens if my home is damaged by freak weather like a tornado?

Despite a tornado being such an unusual occurrence, damage caused by one like that in Greater Manchester will be covered by standard property insurance policies, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

As people's homes, cars and businesses were left damaged by the tornado on Wednesday night, the ABI reassured those affected that insurers will be available to provide help and support.

Spokesman Malcolm Tarling said: "Insurers expect and are ready for any type of bad weather, such as tornado-force winds. When bad weather strikes, their priority is always to help and support their customers recover as quickly as practical. Anyone who has suffered damage should contact their insurer for advice."

Anyone needing temporary emergency accommodation because their homes have been deemed unsafe should ask their insurer to arrange and pay for it, the ABI said, adding that they may also be able to make any emergency payments.

Insurance providers will arrange an inspection of damage once it is safe to do so, it said. For businesses, commercial policies will cover storm damage, and some may cover the cost of hiring any alternative temporary trading premises while a damaged premises is being repaired. Comprehensive motor insurance also covers storm damage.