Storm Ciara affects Leicestershire

Highways teams were working round the clock over the weekend.

It's been a busy weekend for Leicestershire's emergency services because of Storm Ciara.

Leicestershire fire and rescue were called out to unsafe chimney pots, fallen trees, a building with unsafe walls where windows had collapsed in high winds in George Street, Barwell and roof tiles hanging off a building in Oxford Street, Loughborough.

Highways teams worked round-the-clock in response to the effects of the storm.

Leicestershire County Council said it had received more than 60 reports yesterday relating to storm damage to trees across the county, with a number of road closures also in place. 

A spokesperson from the council said: “We’re also continuing to advise that drivers should check the latest weather and travel conditions before setting off on journeys and consider if their journey is necessary and can be delayed until conditions improve.

"If you do intend to travel, then plan your journey and take extra care, allowing more time for your journey. In high winds, there’s a particular risk to lorries, caravans and motorbikes so we’d advise drivers of these vehicles to slow down.”

The county council’s recycling and household waste sites across the county will also remain closed for the rest of the day as a result of the high winds.

Meanwhile to try and minimise the impact the wind had on the railway, speed restrictions of 50mph were imposed along routes in the area.

The speed restrictions reduce the chance of overhead line equipment becoming damaged.