VIDEO: High winds tear into the Littlehampton area – again

POWERFUL winds and driving rain have once again battered the Gazette area leaving many homeowners to pick up the pieces.
By Tom Cotterill
Published 3rd Jan 2014, 17:25 BST
Firefighters in Howards Way, Rustington, where strong winds had ripped a roof from a home.Firefighters in Howards Way, Rustington, where strong winds had ripped a roof from a home.
Firefighters in Howards Way, Rustington, where strong winds had ripped a roof from a home.

Firefighters have been called out three times today (Friday, January 3) to deal with weather-related incidents.

In Howards Way, Rustington, a 20m-square section of felt roof had been ripped away, leaving the home exposed to the elements, shortly before 2.45pm.

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The home’s owner, Pam Shelley, said: “I was having my lunch when I heard this almighty bang.

Firefighters in Howards Way, Rustington, where strong winds had ripped a roof from a home.Firefighters in Howards Way, Rustington, where strong winds had ripped a roof from a home.
Firefighters in Howards Way, Rustington, where strong winds had ripped a roof from a home.

“After I looked out the window I could see things flying around outside. It was like a tornado with things whirling around.”

Firefighters remained on site, clearing away debris, for almost an hour.

Earlier at The Littlehampton Academy, a protective panel had been dislodged by gusts, leaving it dangling dangerously from the roof.

For a full report of the weather damage, see next week’s Littlehampton Gazette, out Thursday, January 9.

Related topics:Rustington