Residents were today picking up the pieces after north Essex was battered by 80mph winds.

One person was injured as the worst winds for 12 years ripped through the Colchester area.

Scores of trees fell, tens of thousands of homes were without power, houses and gardens were damaged, trains were cancelled and emergency services were stretched to the limit.

Boats overturned at West Mersea

Today about 23,000 Essex homes were still without electricity and some schools were shut, including Hedingham School and Feering Primary School.

Insurance companies were bracing themselves for a flood of claims.

The driver of a car in Malting Green Road, Layer de la Haye, had to be rescued by firefighters when a tree fell on to it at 11.15am yesterday. He was cut free and taken to Colchester General Hospital with head injuries.

Two fire engines from Colchester were called to Church Lane, Stanway, when power lines fell on to a car, trapping the occupants.

A pensioner was rescued after his rowing boat capsized at West Mersea.

At one stage yesterday Essex Police were taking five calls every minute.

Trees Down in West Lodge Road, Lexden.

Roads blocked by trees caused traffic chaos in Colchester, with diversions in place despite pleas from both police and the fire service for people to stay indoors.

Essex Police had not been able to put contingency plans in place, saying information from the Met Office had been sketchy.

A spokesman said: "We were told to expect heavy rain and some wind. But the weather turned out to be fairly dry but with winds of 60 to 70 miles per hour, so we were not expecting it.

Ferry services from Harwich to the Hook of Holland were cancelled from Saturday onwards.

One of the worst incidents saw scaffolding blown from the Pier Hotel, Harwich, on to nearby cars, although residents escaped injury. The strongest gust, 80mph, was recorded at Walton.

Published Monday October 28, 2002

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette