RESIDENTS were left without a roof over their heads after Storm Eleanor tore away part of a block of flats.

Rain poured into Hornbeam House, Buckhurst Hill after the storm-force winds, which reached 100mph in parts of the UK, tore away a section of its roof on Wednesday morning.

Some residents of the aging block of flats woke to the prospect of leaving their homes and moving into alternative accommodation by the council, claimed Steven Neville, Green Party councillor for the area.

Fortunately, Epping Forest District Council was able to make temporary repairs that allowed occupants to stay put.

Cllr Neville said: “A large part of it has been torn off by the wind leaving it exposed. About five properties were affected.

“They are trying to do a temporary fix of the roof then a more permanent job later on.”

Tom Carne, the council’s PR manager, said it would be several weeks before a permenant repair could be carried out at the property. 

Today most of the borough was back to normal following an extensive clear up job of storm affected areas yesterday.

Over in Theydon Mount and Toot Hill, the storm caused a fault in an overhead electricity line which plunged 39 homes into darkness in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Several trees were toppled in Bobbingworth where bins and rubbish were strewn across the road.

Essex Fire brigade attended 15 incidents across the county, mostly to move trees blocking roads.