Pictures show Maldon collapsed roof during Storm Bert that saw high street closed off

Residents were evacuated from a three-storey building on an Essex high street after winds from Storm Bert caused the roof to collapse. Bricks and debris rained down into the street in Maldon on Sunday (November 24) following high winds causing severe damage.

Essex Fire Service crews from Maldon, Urban Search and Rescue Team, Chelmsford and an aerial ladder platform from Colchester were called to the incident at 9.32am after the side of a roof on a three-storey building collapsed in Maldon High Street.

Residents living on the property were evacuated as a safety precaution, the fire service said. The high street was shut for hours while emergency crews attended the scene.

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Pictures from the scene showed a huge amount of debris on the street next ot the building, with the side of the roof completely removed due to the winds. The storm caused chaos across Essex this weekend with trees falling on trainlines and various Christmas events being cancelled.

Station Manager Ryan Ainger said: “Initial crews put a cordon in place to maintain the safety of public as the bricks had fallen onto the neighbouring building and the alleyway below. Luckily nobody was injured or trapped.

"Crews worked hard to remove sections of the roof and cleared the loft of any items so they were not blown away by the wind.” Crews made the incident safe by 11am and left the scene with the police.