Storm Elin and Fergus cause damage in Bolton over weekend

Trees were blown over, roofs were damaged and electricity poles were blown over following the storms on Saturday and Sunday.

Action to clear trees which had fallen on to roads was taken immediately with branches still seen nearby.

Fallen trees, roof damage and electricity poles blown over were among the damage caused by the twin storms on Saturday and Sunday.

While the MET Office predicted high winds of up to 81mph, Sunday brought heavy showers throughout the day.

Three trees in Harwood and Bradshaw fell overnight on Saturday blocking the path into Millenium Wood and the Kingfisher Trail at Bradshaw Meadows.

Jane Wilcock was on her Sunday afternoon walk when she found the fallen trees.

She said: “Harwood and Bradshaw had three trees come down on country footpaths over storms Elin and Fergus to my knowledge.

“A crack willow is currently blocking the path into the Millenium Wood and the other two trees over the oath of the Kingfisher trail at Bradshaw Meadows.

“Bolton council arborists are dealing with them.

“The brook levels are high and fast flowing so be careful, and if you see any smaller branches on paths blocking the way for prams and buggies please move them to one side, thank you.”

Across Bolton, a house on Beverley Road, Heaton, reported a fallen roof from a garden shelter following Saturday’s high winds.

And on Chorley New Road, flooding has been reported by a bus shelter near Bolton School and at the junction of Beverley Road.

A resident in the area said: “Both places are pretty bad at the moment and cars and buses don’t want to drive through the water as it can be damaging to vehicles.

“I waited this morning behind a bus that did not want to go through it, and I do not blame the driver.”

Cllr Ryan Bamforth for Horwich and Blackrod First Independents was out in Austin Lane in Horwich after reports of flooding coming from a farm.

He said: "I ended up going there myself and dragging up all the leaves from the drain.

"It was coming from a farm's drain which had blocked up and pushed all the way down the road.

"As soon as I emptied it and walked back down the road, it was clear."

Cllr Bamforth has reported flooding on Chorley New Road to National Highways North West as well as  Street Care.

He said: "The workers are out but it does seem rather reactive than pre-emptive."

Electricity North West have also been out in the region and attended to 17,500 properties across the North West.

Engineers are working again this morning to restore power to the remaining 1,000 properties after more than 40 individual damages to the network.

Electricity North West incident manager, Mark Mercer, said: “Following hot on the heels of the challenging snow conditions our teams faced last weekend we are now back out fighting the elements again to restore power to customers.

“Despite many teams not being able to climb yesterday it’s been a huge effort from our engineers, and we’ve made good progress restoring power to the vast majority of people affected.”

For Bolton this week, the MET Office predicts highs of nine degrees today, with heavy rain from 12pm to 2pm.

Tuesday, December 12 will see temps start at five degrees and reach nine degrees in total, with rain predicted for most of the day until 4pm.

The rest of the week will be clear ranging from seven to eleven degrees over the weekend.

Any storm pictures can be sent to alima.nadeem@nqnw.co.uk