THE storms that raged across the country last Thursday felled trees and caused damage to buildings throughout the area. Six trees were blown down at the Gardens of Little Easton Lodge and debris was strewn across the lawns as they were battered by the win

THE storms that raged across the country last Thursday felled trees and caused damage to buildings throughout the area.

Six trees were blown down at the Gardens of Little Easton Lodge and debris was strewn across the lawns as they were battered by the winds.

"The sound of the wind ripping through the trees was just awesome," said administrator Jacquie Fanchette. "I'm not often lost for words but I just can't describe it."

Four sycamores and two large pine trees were downed by the storm, one crashing into the car park where a car had been parked just minutes before.

Mrs Fanchette said she was pleased no one was hurt at the beauty spot and the buildings at the Gardens seem to have escaped undamaged, but added that the gardens will take much tidying up.

"Fortunately our beautiful Snowdrops survived," she said.

Elsewhere in Dunmow a large tree was blown down in Parsonage Downs, and Dunmow Hockey Club's second and third teams had their games postponed on Saturday due to the wind damaging the hockey goals.

It would appear the Dunmow area got off quite lightly compared to some parts of the country.

Steve Wheaton, general manager for the East of England Ambulance Service: "We have been more fortunate in Essex than in other parts of the country where there have been deaths due to the weather. To our knowledge no one in Essex suffered any life-threatening injuries."

The EEAS Emergency Operations Centre received 779 phone calls on the day reporting 665 incidents, which is 100 higher than normal.

The fire service received 600 calls in the afternoon. Lynne Harding, group fire control officer, said: "Throughout the storm we took more than 600 calls for trees and power lines being brought down, balconies becoming unstable and chimney stacks and road signs which had been badly affected.