High winds ripped roofs off Neyland homes (From Milford Mercury)

High winds ripped roofs off Neyland homes

8:40am Saturday 9th February 2013 in News

A local community has pulled together to help two families, after strong winds ripped the roof off their homes in Neyland last Thursday.

Residents in Church Lake Terrace have come together to help Maureen Bull and Bronwen Johns, whose homes were seriously damaged.

High winds, which were gusting at around 54mph, pulled the roof off their homes, and toppled a telegraph pole.

Mrs Bull and daughter Tina were woken up at 3am by what they thought was thunder.

Tina said: “There was a sound as if a 747 had landed on our roof, and the whole house shuddered. When I looked out of the window I saw loft insulation falling, but at the time I didn’t realise it was ours.

“When the water started coming through the ceiling, I realised that we must have a hole in the roof. But when I rang the emergency services, they said you haven’t got a hole in your roof – you haven’t got a roof.”

She added: “We were terrified, but we didn’t fall to pieces.”

On Friday morning, Tina and Maureen saw the extent of the damage. The strong winds had lifted about 60 feet of slate roofing and dumped it onto a neighbour’s car.

Maureen, who volunteers at the local Paul Sartori shop, said: “I really thought that I was in the middle of the war again as a child, because it was so loud it sounded like bombs dropping.

“Everyone has been so lovely and really pulled together to help us. I’ve been here for 15 years and I think we have such a lovely community here.”

She added: “The main thing is that no one was hurt, and we can smile about it because that’s life.”

Neighbours have pulled together to help both families find accommodation, and start the clean-up process. Local business Mr Shift It helped to move their belongings, while firm JP Jnr Scaffolding laid tarpaulin over the roof and secured the building.

Other neighbours chipped in by providing the stricken families with hot dinners, and helping them pack their belongings.

Neyland Mayor Cllr Maureen Molyneux said: “The wonderful response from people in the community and the local businesses has hopefully made this easier to bear for the people involved.

“And that’s why I love being mayor of Neyland, because we have such a warm-hearted community.”