STORM force winds ripped across Kent on Monday leaving a trail of fallen trees and damaged buildings and caused chaos for people travelling around the county.

ROADS

The QE2 bridge (Dartford Crossing) and the Sheppey Crossing closed to traffic Monday morning as winds gusting to 50 mph battered them.

Traffic heading clockwise on the M25 into Kent, which would normally cross the bridge at Dartford, was being diverted into one of the crossing's tunnels. The Dartford Crossing reopened at lunchtime.

The coastbound section of the M20 between Leeds Castle and Ashford (junctions 8 and 9) was closed at 3.15pm as police re-introduced Operation Stack which uses the motorway as a lorry park.

Many minor roads across the county were affected by fallen trees.

In Shepway, 17 roads were blocked, including the A20 near Folkestone Race Course; Blackhouse Hill, Hythe; Military Road, Sandgate; the A259 Hythe Road in Dymchurch, Canterbury Road in Etchinghill, Elham High Street.Meanwhile, a wall crumbled onto the road at Middleburg Square, Folkestone, and a car was crushed by a tree in Ingles Road.

A lorry overturned on the A20 coastbound near Capel and the trailer was blown onto the central barrier but the wind blew the trailer back onto its wheels again. No one was injured.

Waves brought shingle from the beach at Princes Parade, Hythe, and wooden planks were reported being blown off scaffolding on the Methodist Church in Sandgate Road, Folkestone.Tiles were also whipped off roofs near the coast.

A large tree blocked the A259 at Dymchurch, while a tree was also reported down on the A21 near the Little Chef between Lamberhurst and Flimwell. Motorists helped police to manhandle it out of the way.

A tree fell on to Boarman's Road in Brookland and another blocked the road in Ashford Rd, New Romney.Faversham was gridlocked when trees blew onto the A2 and Whitstable Road. In Boughton, three trees fell in Bull Lane but the road was cleared by 7.40am.

A tree and a lamppost were knocked down in Otterham Quay Lane, Otterham and a tree fell down near Hernhill Primary School.

In Staplestreet, a tree completely blocked the road around 10am.

TRAINS

Southeastern imposed a 50mph speed limit on most trains. Fallen trees, branches and debris disurpted several main lines, delaying services.

Three trees fell on to the tracks at Dumpton Park, near Ramsgate and both lines at Sandling station near Folkestone were covered with fallen branches.

A garden gazebo also obstructed trains near Gravesend and a corrugated iron roof blew on to tracks near Gravesend.

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Staff at Deal Pier decided not to open to walkers and anglers.

DAMAGE

As well as fallen trees, emergency services received reports dangerous scaffolding and signs blowing precariously in the wind.

In Hythe the swimming pool was closed when the high winds damaged the roof.

Firefighters helped a scaffolding firm at Gloucester Terrace on the Sandgate Espalande, Folkestone who were concerned about poles being blown down.

Officers from Kent Fire and Rescue were also called to scaffolding at Jarrett House, in Sandgate Road in the town, which was coming loose in the wind.

At 12.30pm about 1,300 consumers were without electricity. Cables down were reported down in Breach Lane, Lower Halstow, near Gillingham and on the B2075 in Lydd.There were also reports of hazards caused by loose roof tiles, while the excessively strong winds triggered a number of burglar alarms around the Isle of Thanet.

An ancient chestnut tree was felled by the high winds in the garden of Kenward House, Yalding, headquarters of the Kenward Trust which helps people suffering from alcohol and other drug misuse problems.

Spokesman Tony Williams said: "Fortunately, the large tree fell away from the Grade II listed Queen Anne mansion, but damaged a summer house in the grounds."

Seven trees were damaged and caused obstructions at various locations around Canterbury, including Broad Oak Road and outside Canterbury Prison in Longport.

Six other incidents involving trees were reported in Tyler Hill, Bridge, Harbledown, Petham, Wickhambreaux and near to Barham Crematorium.At Frittenden, Kent Messenger weatherman Lester Gosbee could only look on in amazement as part of his oast house cowl dangled precariously in the wind.