Storm Pia batters Bolton with tree falling on vehicle

Trees were uprooted causing chaos on the borough's roads.

The resident, who lives on Melbourne Road in Deane, awoke this morning, Thursday, November 21, to a knock on the door from the council.

As he opened the door, he found a tree had fallen on his Vauxhall Astra. 

The resident said: “I was surprised. A guy from Bolton Council knocked the door, and I didn’t even realise until I opened it and he asked me if it was my car. 

The damaged Vauxhall (Image: Newsquest)

“I had that strong feeling, I didn’t want to cry so I started laughing.

“But now it is Christmas and New Year’s and everything, it will take longer to sort out, to get it through insurance, a new temporary car because I can’t drive this one.

“My wife went to work at around 5.30am and it was still okay then, so it must have happened between 5.30am and 6am.”

He added: “It is not big damage on the car, it has just left damage on the one side, maybe the suspension.”

Tree (Image: Public)

A tree fell across the road Thornham Drive in Astley Bridge and on Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge.

Council workers removed the tree from the road, with it being cleared by noon today.

The resident does not believe that anyone was hurt.

A fresh tree stump could be seen, with a metal fence panel out of place.

At Marks and Spencers in Middlebrook had a window smashed by the high winds but was open as usual with a cordon around the area affected.

This comes as Storm Pia hits Bolton today, alongside much of the UK. 

For live updates on the storm in Bolton, see our live blog: https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/24004779.storm-pia-uproots-trees-bolton-weather-warning-issued/

A yellow Met Office weather warning remains in place until midnight after Danish forecasters yesterday named the storm which is impacting the majority of the United Kingdom.  

The tree across Melbourne Road (Image: Qaddaf Shahid)

Samantha Loukes, Electricity North West’s incident manager, said: “Fresh off two major weather incidents already this month, our teams are again responding and battling the elements brought by Storm Pia.  

“We are well prepared and having already made substantial progress this morning, teams remain on site carrying out repairs where trees and branches have damaged overhead lines.  

“For the North West, we’re expecting the worst of the winds to hit the region from 10am until 2pm but our forecast along with the Met Office warning remains in place until midnight. 

“As always, if you see lines down or damage to any of our equipment, stay well clear and call us on 105 so we can make the area safe.”