High Winds Cause Tree to Strike Derelict Church, Resulting in Damage

A disused church located in Newcastle-under-Lyme sustained damage to its roof when a tree, uprooted by strong winds, struck the structure. The tree impacted the rear of the vacant church, situated on The Avenue in Kidsgrove, amidst reported wind speeds exceeding 40mph (64kmph) on Thursday. An individual informed BBC Radio Stoke that the vicinity carried a woody aroma, noting that typically “you can’t see the skies” due to the dense trees in the adjacent woodland. Highway maintenance personnel have secured the area, leading to the closure of the road to vehicular traffic. Local residents characterized the winds as a “loud tornado” via social media, while police indicated they had received reports of 25 trees being brought down. The Met Office recorded wind speeds greater than 40mph (64kmph) on Thursday evening for Kidsgrove and its surrounding region. A yellow warning had been issued in advance of Storm Darragh’s arrival, valid until 03:00 GMT on Friday.