Tree closes Norfolk road after being felled by strong winds

The Low Road in Hellesdon remains closed to traffic today (Sunday, December 10) after the tree was brought down by winds of up to 60mph that have come as Storm Elin struck the county.

The fallen tree in Low Road, Hellesdon (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)It has completely blocked the road and has resulted in the route being closed either side of the tree which came down late last night.

On Sunday (December 10) morning a number of vehicles were forced to turn around after coming across the felled tree which has been cordoned off by cones and police tape.

The fallen tree in Low Road, Hellesdon (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Some pedestrians tried to wriggle through the branches on the path as they tried to squeeze past the blockage and another man, on his way to work, managed to navigate his scooter through the tangled branches.

The man, who did not want to be named, said: "I'm on my way to work. 

"I can't really go another way. I just thought I would go through it. It's crazy."

The fallen tree in Low Road, Hellesdon (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)A 50-year-old man who lives close by, but who did not want to be named, said he was not surprised that the tree, which he said was "dead", had come down on what had been a windy night.

A spokesman in the Norfolk Constabulary control room confirmed they received reports of a fallen tree on  Saturday (December 9) shortly before midnight.

He said: "We were made aware by a member of the public of a tree down on Hellesdon Low Road.

"We attended and have had to close both lanes for public safety."

Fallen tree in Low Road, Hellesdon (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)The spokesman said highways attended the incident last night but "need specialist equipment" and would be re-attending later to deal with it.

He said "several" trees had come down across the county as a result of high winds overnight.

The Met Office had issued Norfolk with a yellow warning for wind on Saturday as part of Storm Elin which moved over Ireland and towards other parts of the UK with gusts of around 30 to 45mph and a risk of localised 50mph gales.

Dan Holley, a meteorologist at Norwich-based WeatherQuest, posted on social media the westerly winds would peak on Saturday night with "gusts generally 40-55mph, but a small risk of 60mph locally".