Cars crushed, roof ripped off in overnight storm

Dawn yesterday revealed the full extent of the damage.

At the seaward end of Albert Road, four cars were crushed when scaffolding shrouding the Hailsham Court flats block collapsed across the road, blocking the road from side to side.

Taxi driver Dave Smith, who lives opposite in Albert Mansions, lost his immediate livelihood when his Skoda Octavia was buried under the weight of the falling steel (pictured below).

His partner, Sheila, said: "It happened at about 3.25am. It was horrible. There was this horrendous noise. It woke me up with a start. Instantly, I knew it was the scaffolding.

"Our neighbour came upstairs and rang our bell then went to phone the emergency services."

Dave Smith said: "My taxi's written off completely. The roof's crushed in. One scaffolding pole has gone through the windscreen and down into the driver's seat.

"If I had been sitting there I would have been dead...

"The rear wheels are pushed right up into the arches. The taxi's a write-off - and I have only just had it serviced! There's a real rigmarole now. I have to notify the licensing authority that the taxi's been in an accident. It's not like a private car. you can't just get a courtesy car off the insurance company. It has to be a licensed vehicle.

"I've got a Gatwick run booked for tomorrow and a Heathrow run. On Saturday I have to pick up a chap from Heathrow who's ben in America -and his is another of the cars that's ben crushed.

"it's just a miracle that there was nobody out there at the time."

The tally of cars buried under the debris included, besides the taxi, a Ford Escort, a Rover 600 and a Mitsubishi Lancer.

Firefighters and police attended the scene. But there was little they could do until scaffolders and Health and Safety inspectors arrived.

Residents at Grinley Court in Cranfield Road awoke to a deafening ripping sound followed by an almighty thud as a gust tore away a 30-square feet section of roof.

The heavy felt roof was lifted from the three storey building and dumped in the garden at around 4am. The soffit and fascia was ripped away and some sections were found some 150 yards away in Buckhurst Road the following morning.

Resident Pam Heard said: "We woke with a start when he heard this terrific booming noise. My husband jumped up and looked out of the window and said 'oh, the roof's in the garden.'

"We only had it redone two years ago."

Firefighters wrapped tarpaulin on the roof to minimise and leaks and helped the flat's occupier move his furniture to safety.

Mrs Heard added: "It was quite a shock. My husband went for a walk this morning at 6.30am and he said rubbish bags had been blown all over the place. He found a round barbecue and a dog bowl in the middle of Devonshire Road."