Storm batters borough
Trees down and power lines broken
OVER 2,000 properties in Hinckley were left without power as high winds swept through the area last week.
Western Power Distribution, the area’s energy supplier, said the winds overnight on Wednesday damaged equipment cutting off thousands of properties.
Many were restored quickly however around 40 homes were waiting into Thursday for the lights to go back on.
Winds also caused travel disruption felling trees across the area.
A collapsed evergreen on New Buildings near B&Q caused disruption while another fallen tree across the A5 on the bend near Three Pots and Hinckley Knight also held up traffic.
Another came down on Leicester Road, near the rugby club.
Lutterworth Road in Burbage was also blocked by a fallen tree but was quickly cleared.
A large tree fell onto the road and telephone lines in West Street in Earl Shilton and was photographed by Dr Simon Preval.
Debris also partially covered the A47 near the town, though the road was still usable with care.
A tree also fell across the Lychgate Lane in Aston Flamville, near the church.
A representative from Western Power Distribution said on Thursday: “There was an incident reported at around 4.30am this morning, and around 2,000 properties in Hinckley were without power.
“Strong winds damaged some of the equipment on our overhead lines.”
The fierce winds caused failures affecting properties in LE7, LE 9, LE10, LE12, LE14 and LE67 overnight, including with no power or street lights in Kirkby Mallory at one point.
Area Traffic Control (ATC) reportsed that many roads throughout Leicestershire are either partially or fully blocked.
An ATC spokesperson said: “Drivers are advised to allow more time for their journeys today and to take care as there is a lot of debris on the roads.”
There were also reports of a group of ferrets escaping onto Factory Road after the pets’ cages were blown over by the wind.
Five were believed to have escaped and, while three had returned, two were still on the loose on Thursday afternoon.
Winds of up to 62mph battered the region as a storm swept across the United Kingdom before crossing the North Sea.