Fallen trees and school closures after night of high winds

10:15am Monday 10th March 2008

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A clean up operation has taken place across the county this morning following a night of high winds.

Wiltshire County Council received 35 calls in the early hours to trees and boughs which had been knocked over in the early hours due to the strong winds.

However, there were no reports of any flooding.

Meanwhile, two secondary schools were forced to close for the day.

Students from Malmesbury Secondary School remained at home following an electricity cut, which is believed to be weather related.

Braden Forest Secondary School in Purton was also closed after heavy winds caused damage to the roof.

Drivers faced minor delays while staff worked to remove fallen trees from roads near Erlestoke, Pewsey and Lacock.

The Highways Agency was dealing with road blockages in Great Cheverell, on Blunsden High Street, and on the B4040 at Minety crossroads.

Trees also fell on to the road in Bristol Road, Chippenham, and at Mile Elm in Calne.

A spokesman for Wiltshire County Council said: "We are on stand-by because the wind is due to pick up again."

Towns were also littered with broken cones on traffic islands as the winds are thought to have torn them from their foundations. Two cones were torn from the ground near the Avenue La Fleche roundabout in Chippenham and at the Cross Keys crossroads in Corsham.

Wiltshire Police were also inundated with calls from people across the county who were reporting weather related incidents.

Of the total number of calls, all bar one were in relation to fallen trees and just one has been to report excess water on the road in Swindon.

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: "We urge all motorists to take extra care when out on the county's roads today.

"Stick to the speed limit or lower if necessary and make sure you leave plenty of time for your journey.

"If you find any fallen trees, please report them as soon as possible and only drive around them when it is safe to do so."

Anyone with information on the county's roads should call Wiltshire Police on 0845 408 7000.