Third storm in days batters the county
GALE force winds battered Leicestershire on Sunday and Monday as the third named storm in just five days passed through the county.
The high winds began early on Sunday afternoon and continued into Monday afternoon. The highest wind speeds were recorded at about 6am Monday, with speeds in the Leicester area reaching more than 50mph.
A yellow warning for wind issued for Storm Franklin was in force until 1pm Monday.
The warning stated: “Further periods of strong winds are expected across much of England and Wales on
Sunday and Monday which may cause some disruption.
“Some delays to road, rail, and ferry transport are likely.
“Some damage to infrastructure and trees/branches is possible, especially where made more vulnerable by Storm Eunice.
“Power outages are possible, and efforts to restore power to areas which have had interrupted supply in the wake of Storm Eunice are likely to be hampered.”
Meanwhile, two Environment Agency Flood Alerts were issued for Leicestershire, with flooding a risk around waterways in the Lutterworth area and along the River Soar between Leicester and Loughborough.
Several low-lying roads including Slash Lane, near Sileby, and Watery Gate Lane, near Earl Shilton, were underwater and the situation was likely to worsen after further rainfall on Sunday.
The Environment Agency reported high river levels at Pillings Lock, near Quorn, on Sunday morning, leading to a warning on its website which stated: “River levels continue to rise at the Pillings Lock river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall.”