STORM Imogen has continued its relentless assault today, bringing trees down and causing minor floods across the area.

In Stow-on-the-Wold a home in Backwalls had half of its wall shorn off as the storm raged through. Gusts of 80mph have been recorded it parts of the South West.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

The side of a house in tatters in Backwalls, Stow-on-the-Wold, following Storm Imogen. Photo courtesy of Twitter account @StowontheWold1

South Cerney pub the Eliot Arms also took a beating as its sign sprang its foundations and slipped two steel cables to topple into the fast-flowing river below. The mast is due to be recovered by engineers but the sign itself floated some way down river.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

The Eliot Arms lost its heavily-anchored sign as high winds hit the Cotswolds

Meanwhile in Malmesbury the river reached crisis levels, with flood warden Sue Poole saying on Sunday: “We are very much on the edge, and people need to be aware the river is very high and fast flowing.”

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The water levels reaching a critical point at Town Bridge in Malmesbury. Photo: Jackie PeelWilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

River levels rise in Malmesbury. Photo: Jackie Peel

In Somerford Keynes tiles were swept from a roof, smashing a window, writing off two cars and hitting another car and a caravan. Several fence panels were knocked down and, amazingly, a trampoline was found 40 yards down the road over a ten foot tall fence.  


Stephen Payne said it all happened in around 20 seconds and felt “like a tornado came through”. 

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

The havoc caused by flying tiles in Spine Road, Somerford Keynes. Photo by Stephen Payne

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

A fence looking worse for wear after a 'tornado' came through Spine Road, Somerford Keynes. Photo by Stephen Payne

In other parts of the Cotswolds, the story was much the same, with reports of potholes growing at alarming rates and minor floods on fields and roads.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

Water floods a dip in the road near South Cerney

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said a number of trees had come down overnight as wind speeds peaked, but most had been recovered.

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A tree is rent apart on the bridle path between Shoemakers Lane and Giles Green Farm near Brinkworth. Photo by Peter Russell

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A tricky path to navigate near near Brinkworth. Photo by Peter Russell

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

A Standard reader took this photo of water running down the road in the Cotswolds

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Water takes over half the road in Ampney St Peter. Photo by Myra Bye

So far, the storm has been at its most powerful at Needles Old Battery in the Isle of Wight where gusts of 96mph were recorded.

The yellow weather warning for rain and amber warning for wind will stay in force until 6pm today.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

A Met Office map of the affected areas

Do you have a photo of damage caused by Storm Imogen? Send it to jpi@wiltsglosstandard.co.uk.