A pedestrian narrowly missed being hit by a falling elm tree as it crashed down on to a busy Brighton road this morning.
At least three trees have come down in high winds this morning as gales hit the south coast, with a yellow weather warning in place for the region until this evening.
A garden wall has been destroyed by an elm tree in Dyke Road, and another tree has crashed on top of a car in Wilmington Way.
The tree in Wilmington Way is outside Mike Langridge’s house. He said: “I believe it to have been around 5.30am when it came down. It was our neighbour’s car underneath.
“It’s usually parked across the road where he lives – he probably parked outside ours as there was no room at his.
“Usually it’s my van parked there, and my silver car is next to his. I’m unsure of the damage yet.”
Elizabeth Moody-Stuart, who runs Officreche just opposite where the Dyke Road elm came down, said one man narrowly avoided being hit by the tree as it fell at 9.40am.
She said: “No one was hurt and no cars were damaged. One guy on that side of the road just missed being under it. So very lucky.
“Lots of cars have driven round it – and a bus. It’s being chopped up already.
“The council had just painted over a bit of graffiti on the wall that was knocked down. A colleague says it said something about a curse – with a snake on it.”
Firefighters were also called to several wind-related incidents overnight.
At 12.23am, Brighton firefighters were sent to Edward Street, in Brighton, following reports of metal sheets falling from a property due to the wind. However, following a thorough search nothing was found.
At 1.10am, Brighton firefighters made a dangerous structure safe at a property in Western Road, Brighton.
And at 6.03am, Roedean firefighters were sent to Wilson Avenue, in Brighton, after a tree fell onto a car, with no one trapped inside. Crews removed the tree from the car for the owner.
A tree was also reported to be down in Fourth Avenue in Hove this morning.
Bus services are being affected by the weather, with some diversions in place:
⚠ Our #BH22 services are currently diverted from Brighton Station via Upper Gloucester Road and Buckingham Road due to a fallen tree. ⚠
— B&H Buses (@BrightonHoveBus) June 6, 2017
And trains have also been delayed by trees on the line at Selhurst and Syndenham this morning. Those trees have now been removed, but weather is still set to affect services all day:
⚠️ #SNWeather – Network wide service disruption following earlier weather related incidents which is expected until the end of the day.
— Southern (@SouthernRailUK) June 6, 2017
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind, which is in place until 10pm. It says: “Strong to gale force west to northwesterly winds will affect many areas today. Gusts of 40 to 50 mph are likely with isolated gusts close to 60 mph possible over coasts, hills and locally inland where heavy showers occur.
“Expect some localised transport disruption with some trees perhaps uprooted. Large waves and spray will affect some coasts.
“The strongest winds will affect Wales, western and southern England initially before extending across the Midlands towards Lincolnshire and East Anglia this afternoon. Winds then moderating from the southwest this evening.”
