South Essex took a major battering yesterday as gale force winds swept across the country.

Gales of more than 70mph destroyed property, caused massive transport problems and even closed a substantial section of Southend High Street.

Hundreds of calls were made to emergency services across the county.

More than 260 people dialled 999 to report problems caused by the wind, including felled trees and damaged buildings.

The volume of calls was so high that police urged people to call their local police stations for all non-emergencies, to relieve 999 operators.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service Control received more than 400 emergency calls.

A spokesman said: "Officers were drafted in to help operators handle calls at Hutton headquarters. The deluge of calls meant responses had to be prioritised."

In Benfleet, a 50ft tree was ripped up, taking down telephone lines and narrowly missing cars and property.

In nearby Thundersley, an unsecured roof blew off a block of flats being built in Roseberry Avenue, landing in a car park and damaging three cars.

Southend firefighters were called out constantly throughout the day, tending to jobs including scaffolding that collapsed in Alexandra Road, a sign that came loose at Prospects College and roof tiles which were loose in Eastern Esplanade.

Severe storms caused big transport problems across south Essex, disrupting trains and closing roads.

Passengers on the c2c and One Railway lines, between Southend and London, suffered long delays, cancellations and alterations at short notice yesterday.

Trains between London Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria were badly delayed after a tree blew on to the line near Hockley.

On the c2c line, between Fenchurch Street and Shoebury, a wedding marquee big enough for 16 tables took flight and landed on the line near Pitsea station. A billboard also blew on to the tracks.

Services were running between Fenchurch Street and Shoebury, via Laindon, and between Fenchurch Street and Grays via Rainham, both at about 20 minute intervals.

A shuttle rail service ran between Upminster and Grays and buses replaced trains between Grays and Pitsea.

Network Rail placed a blanket 50mph speed limit on all lines, reduced from the normal 70mph.

Peter Meades, spokesman for One, said this forced all train companies to "thin out" services.

He added: "The main problem for us has been when the overhead power lines get damaged, either because of the weather itself or they are hit by something that has blown over."

On the roads, the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, which links the M25 between Essex and Kent, was closed all day from 7.30am because of high winds.

Southbound traffic diverted through one of the tunnels, which normally carry only northbound vehicles.

A mile stretch of the A127, near Leigh, was closed as roof tiles were blown from a commercial building near the road, and St Mary's Lane, North Ockendon, had to be closed for a short time as power lines running along it were sparking.

The Highways Agency, which manages and operates motorways and trunk roads in England, warned widespread frosts and a risk of snow over northern and eastern parts of the country were expected to cause further woe for drivers next week.

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