House Partially Collapses During Storm Dave
A woman reported that she and her daughter had just moved out of a house which partially collapsed overnight due to the "horrendous" winds caused by Storm Dave.
Fire and rescue crews were dispatched to Westbourne Avenue in Blackpool at approximately 06:45 BST.
Donna Hanna, who now resides at another property on the same street, expressed her shock upon seeing the extensive damage to her former home.
"I think I'm still a bit in shock because I've literally just moved out with my daughter seven days ago."
Hanna described feeling "sick" when reflecting on the incident, noting that she and her daughter had previously shared the front bedroom adjacent to the collapsed wall.
"I can't believe it, to be honest - to think I was in it seven days ago."
She also mentioned hearing bins being knocked over and considerable noise during the "absolutely howling" winds overnight, which affected her sleep.
Local Accounts and Emergency Response
Another resident of Westbourne Avenue recounted that a neighbour heard a thud around midnight and noticed the floor moving. It is possible the collapse occurred then but was only discovered in the early hours when a dog walker passed by.
A spokesperson from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the gable end of the property had collapsed into the adjacent alleyway.
"It's been a busy night for crews here at Chorley Fire Station as Storm Dave made its presence felt across the county.
Our Urban Search and Rescue Team were mobilised to Blackpool following reports of a building collapse, working alongside partner agencies to ensure the scene was made safe."
Storm Dave's Impact Across the Region
The incident coincided with forecasted gusts exceeding 70mph (113 km/h) in Blackpool on Saturday night.
The storm also caused debris to be blown onto the beach, and sea foam was sprayed onto the promenade, prompting a clean-up operation.
Further along the Fylde Coast in Morecambe, scaffolding was blown off a building and landed on the adjacent road. The fire service has since cleared this hazard.
In Greater Manchester, a tree uprooted by the storm was removed by Trafford Council staff.
Weather Warnings and Wind Speeds
Storm Dave arrived on Saturday with an amber wind warning in effect for parts of northern England, north-west Wales, and southern Scotland until 03:00 on Sunday.
The highest gust recorded overnight was 93mph at Capel Curig in north Wales. Other notable gusts included 75mph at Emley Moor in West Yorkshire and St Bees Head in Cumbria, and 73mph at Buchan in Aberdeenshire.
Met Office spokesperson Marco Petagna stated:
"The winds eased down a bit more quickly than forecast across Scotland, northern England and Wales.
Storm Dave is pulling away and the warnings are easing more quickly than forecast so the yellow warnings were no longer warranted."
Additional Information
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