A LARGE section of roof at a four-storey block of flats was blown off on Tuesday as severe gales hit Kent.

The bitumen covered wooden frame crashed to the ground in the Gateway Court car park on Victoria Parade, off Ramsgate seafront hitting a fire engine and parked cars.

Flying debris

A firefighter was hurt and taken to hospital. It is understood he was struck by flying debris but his injuries are not serious.

The alarm was raised at 10am following reports that the roof was unsafe. Ramsgate fire and rescue service and the aerial ladder team from Canterbury attended but the roof flew off before it could be secured safely.

The Red Cross victim support unit were called to the scene, together with building control officers from Thanet council, for the clean-up operation.

None of the residents at the flats, many of whom are elderly, were re-housed.

Whipped off

Paul Howlett, contracts manager for DMP Roofing, was passing the scene as the drama unfolded.

He said: "It appears that the strong winds blew a corner of the roof up at first and before it could be secured, it was whipped off. It crashed onto a fire engine and vehicles in the car park at Gateway Court."

~ Picture gallery: Kent lashed by storms

~ Bad weather round-up

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