The Great Storm of 1987 Hastings and Bexhill: Here are 38 pictures of the devastation it caused to our area

Hurricane force winds of up to 103 miles an hour uprooted trees and toppled church spires.

The high winds on the seafront dislodged a four-ton chimney, sending it crashing through four storeys causing the death of 67-year-old Ronald Davies of Warwickshire, who was crushed beneath a mountain of bricks and mortar as he lay in bed.

The storm also claimed another victim – boy ashore Jimmy Read, aged 49. He was hit by the roof of a winch hut as he helped drag up the fisherman's boats at the height of the storm. He was given a traditional fisherman's funeral, when hundreds of mourners turned out for a service at All Saints Church, Hastings.

Hundreds of homes in the area suffered damage and lost their power supply, while many roads were blocked due to fallen masonry.

These images were taken from a special storm supplement when we covered the event at the time.

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