BMW written off after being crushed by falling debris during Storm Barney

A BMW was crushed by falling bricks and roof tiles as Storm Barney battered the UK with winds of up to 80mph.

Flats in Alexandra Court, in Wilkinson Street, Greater Manchester, were evacuated after parts of the roof collapsed under the force of the storm.

The debris fell on a black BMW parked below, shattering the windows and causing the roof to buckle under the force of the impact.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 7.45pm last night and the roads around the apartment block were later closed by police as crews made sure residents were safe.

One resident of the block said: “Someone said it was a near new car so I thought ‘Poor fella’. He just bought a new car and it is smashed to pieces.

“It was like the ceiling and the roof of my flat lifted up and came down. So I rushed out and saw the damage.”

Thousands of homes across the UK were left without power as the storm raged on and rail passengers continued to face lengthy delays after fallen trees blocked lines.

The highest winds recorded on Tuesday evening reached 83mph in coastal areas of North Wales while gusts of 66mph hit the villages of Weybourne in Norfolk and Wittering near Peterborough.

The worst of the storm was over by Wednesday morning but forecasters have warned of an "ongoing unsettled spell”.