Storms batter council houses across city

The early January storms led to 160 incidents involving council houses, it has emerged.

Severe gales on January 3 saw council property conservation staff called out to 160 incidents, with council homes suffering a significant increase in roof damage.

Among the incidents were falling masonry, dangerous roofs and chimneys.

Staff from the council’s forestry teams are still clearing uprooted trees, fallen branches and woodland left by the severe weather in the early days of 2012.

The staff that helped residents deal with problems have received praise from council leader Jenny Dawe. She said: “I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work to get the city back to normal.”

The Evening News revealed earlier this week that repairing damage to the Kaimes Special School is set to cost nearly £1 million.