A MONSTER wind turbine crashed to the ground when it was snapped by gales. The £20million machine had been buffeted by 50mph gusts as Storm Dudley swept in. It woke people living nearby when it smashed to the ground, the boom echoing around the valley. Resident Lydia Stephens said: “I thought it was thunder. How […]
A MONSTER wind turbine crashed to the ground when it was snapped by gales.
The £20million machine had been buffeted by 50mph gusts as Storm Dudley swept in.
It woke people living nearby when it smashed to the ground, the boom echoing around the valley.
Resident Lydia Stephens said: “I thought it was thunder. How the hell does a wind turbine fall over?
“It was creaking and banging all night before it collapsed.
“One woman thought it was her neighbour’s tumble-dryer.”
The 300ft machine was one of ten at the Pant-y-Wal wind farm near Bridgend, in South Wales.
An investigation into Monday’s calamity has been launched — but residents want the other turbines, which produce enough power for 18,000 homes, to be checked.
It came as the Met Office issued an amber “danger to life” warning over Storm Dudley, with winds of 90mph expected in the North today.
A second storm, Eunice, is set to bring snow and blizzards across the country on Friday.
National Highways has urged drivers not to travel unless absolutely necessary until the two storms have passed.
Winds should drop over the weekend.
At Derwent Reservoir, in the Peak District, Derbys, water was already pouring over the dam before the worst of the weather struck.
But in Cambridgeshire, a moment of calm saw a beautiful sunrise over the River Great Ouse, at Ely.
