Shell-shocked . . staff escape injury as tree falls on garage

STAFF at an Edinburgh garage had a lucky escape when a tree came crashing down just feet away from petrol pumps.

The high winds yesterday saw trees brought down and traffic lights battered by gusts of up to 70mph.

Staff at the Shell garage on Comiston Road were left shocked after a 50ft tree crashed down.

The strong winds caused chaos across the country, with one driver recovering in hospital after his car was hit by a falling tree in Humberside last night. Firefighters were called to free the driver from the car, which was blocking a main road.

Forecasters predict the bad weather will continue today, with a good chance of snow in the Lothians later in the week.

Lothian and Borders Police reported a series of incidents yesterday, including a work sign blown on to the east carriageway of the city bypass. They were also called to Gilmerton Road, where temporary traffic lights were blown over. The incident caused other lights in the area to stick on red, leading to congestion.

There were also reports of a billboard blown over at the Gyle shopping centre, and council workers were called out to remove a dangerous overhanging branch in Princes Street Gardens after it broke free in the wind.

The incident at the garage happened just after 12.15pm. Sales assistant Sujith Babu, 28, who has worked there for two years, dived for cover when he heard the tree collapse. "I was just serving a woman at the counter when there was this incredibly loud bang," he said. "I had no idea what had happened and I just instinctively ducked down behind the desk.

"The woman I was serving ran outside and told me to come and have a look. It's quite incredible that there wasn't more damage."

Branches from the tree smashed through a section of the building's roof, although the structure was still thought to be sound. Mr Babu closed off the garage and called the fire brigade, who checked there was no risk, but said there was nothing they could do about the tree.

Manager Alastair Campbell said he expected the garage to be closed for up to 24 hours. "We'll have to shore up a bit of the roof and get everything waterproofed, and before we can do that we need to wait for the tree to be removed."

Severe weather warnings were issued by the Met office yestarday morning, with gusts of up to 70mph expected in Edinburgh and across the Lothians. The public were advised to take care, with drivers asked to check road conditions ahead of any journeys.

A tree was blown on to the road at Summerhall Crescent, off Melville Drive, damaging a streetlamp and blocking the westbound lane for more than two hours.

Police set up diversions and council workers covered live wires on the streetlamp.

Several roads in the Lothians were also affected by surface water due to the heavy rain.

The bad weather was expected to continue into today with even stronger west to south-westerly gusts expected.

A Met Office spokesman said there was also a chance of snow early next week. "These very strong winds are being driven by an area of low pressure which is coming in from the north, and we would expect them to sweep across Scotland in the next 24 hours or so," he said.