FIREFIGHTERS were called after a flat roof was ripped from a block of flats in Leigh. 

Crews were called at 11pm last night in Theobalds Road, Leigh, where a roof of a block of flats had completely blown off and crashed onto the cars in the car park.

Leigh fire service described last night as "crazy". 

A spokeperson for Leigh fire crew said: "It was crazy. I have never seen anything like it in all my years. The whole of the flat roof had blown off in the wind and was covering three cars in the car park.

"The aerial eventually fell down and smashed the window of an apartment below.

"We couldn't deal with it so we just left."

Essex firefighters had been called to more than 25 incidents as strong winds battered the county. 

Elsewhere in Essex, storm Barney has shut the QE2 bridge at the Dartford crossing due to strong winds and Essex Fire and Rescue Service is reporting several call outs due to damage - including in Westcliff. 

Echo: The roof was ripped off the flats in Theobalds Court, Theobalds Road, Leigh. Picture and video by Echo photographer Al Underwood