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Roof of changing rooms at Woodcombe FC, Murston, torn off by strong winds

Strong gusts overnight and throughout this morning's rush hour have damaged buildings in Sittingbourne and on Sheppey.

A football club is appealing for help after strong winds ripped off the roof of its changing rooms.

Maintenance workers arrived at Woodcombe FC’s Murston Park ground in Church Road, Murston, this morning to discover the whole covering had detached and landed in the car park.

What remains of the building is currently being made safe as two boilers, pipes and electrics were left exposed to the elements.

Damage to Woodcombe FC's changing rooms after strong winds
Damage to Woodcombe FC's changing rooms after strong winds

It comes as strong gusts battered the county throughout the morning, tearing down trees and causing travel chaos.

Volunteers are trying to secure the site and provide some kind of covering as the club is due to host about half a dozen games this weekend.

The roof, which was installed about three years ago following a fundraising drive, is also being dismantled.

Damage to Woodcombe FC's changing rooms after strong winds
Damage to Woodcombe FC's changing rooms after strong winds

The club is waiting to see if the damage will be covered by its insurance or if it will be classed as ineligible as an “act of God”.

Football section secretary Shaun Tyler said: “We are trying to figure out where we go from here. We just had the roof installed and all the outside rendered and now it’s completely gone.

Damage to Woodcombe FC's changing rooms after strong winds
Damage to Woodcombe FC's changing rooms after strong winds

“We might have to start from scratch again and check to see whether it’s safe to carry on using it or whether it needs to be taken down.

“Everything is up in the air and there’s lots of debris and bits of metal.”

Anyone wants to offer help is invited to visit Murston Park.

Meanwhile, on the Isle of Sheppey, strong winds bought down part of a farm building.

Firefighters were delayed this morning after a wall fell into the road
Firefighters were delayed this morning after a wall fell into the road

Firefighters were called to Warden Road in Eastchurch shortly before 7am this morning.

They had to deal with a small undergrowth fire in a garden, which was caused by some embers picked up from a nearby bungalow chimney by the high winds.

However, the fire crew was delayed because a side wall of a farm building had fallen into the road.

Once the area was cleared and the fire was extinguished, firefighters headed back to the station at 7.45am.

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