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Battered homes to be demolished Battered homes to be demolished
(about 2 hours later)
Some of the homes affected by the tornado which swept through north-west London will have to be demolished while others remain too dangerous to enter. Some of the homes hit the tornado which swept through north-west London will have to be demolished while others remain too dangerous to enter.
About 70 families have spent the night in temporary accommodation after the strong winds hit the Kensal Rise area. Eight families were found temporary accommodation on Thursday night while others stayed with family and friends after the storm hit Kensal Rise.
Six people were injured, only one of them seriously, but up to 150 homes were damaged. Six people were injured, one seriously, and up to 150 homes were damaged.
Insurance experts are still assessing the damage, put in the millions, by a force which lasted just a minute. Insurance assessors are still assessing the damage, but it is expected to run into millions of pounds.
Brent Council borough surveyor Andy Hardy said the authority would re-house people where necessary whilst in a statement the authority revealed 24 homes were uninhabitable. Brent Council borough surveyor Andy Hardy, said: "There are a number of houses with severe structural damage and some may have to be shored up or demolished.
I went to try to take a picture of it but a shower of debris smashed all the windows Daniel Bidgood I went to try to take a picture of it, but a shower of debris smashed all the windows Daniel Bidgood
Mr Hardy said: "There are a number of houses with severe structural damage and some may have to be shored up or demolished.
"At the moment we are expecting further severe weather so we are not going to send any contractors in to shore up until we are sure the weather is not going to create further mayhem.""At the moment we are expecting further severe weather so we are not going to send any contractors in to shore up until we are sure the weather is not going to create further mayhem."
The roof of one house was completely ripped off as debris was sent flying and trees in the streets uprooted. The roof of one house was ripped off, debris was sent flying and trees in the streets were uprooted.
Six roads were subsequently sealed by fire crews who were called to Chamberlayne Road and surrounding streets at about 1100 GMT on Thursday, amid reports of collapsed scaffolding and damage to buildings. Six roads were sealed off after the emergency services were called to the area at 1100 GMT on Thursday.
Up to 150 homes have been affected. Photo by Joe C Witnesses reported heavy rain and sleet just before the tornado struck.
Witnesses reported reported heavy rain and sleet just before the tornado struck.
One resident, Colin Brewer, said: "It was really, really incredible. All of a sudden I saw a swirl starting to form and then, it was amazing, but it then touched land.One resident, Colin Brewer, said: "It was really, really incredible. All of a sudden I saw a swirl starting to form and then, it was amazing, but it then touched land.
Up to 150 homes have been affected. Photo by Joe C
"I then saw clumps of all sorts of things flying into air. It went from exciting to terrifying.""I then saw clumps of all sorts of things flying into air. It went from exciting to terrifying."
Local resident Daniel Bidgood tried to take a photograph as the tornado swept through the neighbourhood.Local resident Daniel Bidgood tried to take a photograph as the tornado swept through the neighbourhood.
"I could see a huge cloud rolling up the street, making this tremendous sound."I could see a huge cloud rolling up the street, making this tremendous sound.
"I went to try to take a picture of it but a shower of debris smashed all the windows of my house.""I went to try to take a picture of it but a shower of debris smashed all the windows of my house."
Streets closed Brent Council said 24 homes were uninhabitable but everyone had been found a place to stay for the night.
Brent Council set up its respite centre at the Legion Hall on Albert Road for residents who had been made temporarily homeless. Damage assessed
A council spokeswoman said about 70 people were at the hall but they were preparing to help about 150. A spokeswoman said a respite centre set up by the council in Legion Hall on Albert Road was closed at 2330GMT.
Whitmore Gardens and parts of Chamberlayne Gardens and Crediton Road remain closed to pedestrians and vehicles. A meeting is due to take place at the centre at 1145GMT on Friday to update residents on the latest situation.
The Association of British Insurers said initial estimates suggested damage would be in the millions of pounds rather than tens of millions as caused by the tornado which struck an area of Birmingham in 2005. The Association of British Insurers said initial estimates suggested damage would be in the millions of pounds rather than tens of millions, as was caused by the tornado which struck Birmingham in 2005.
The last tornado which caused significant damage in London was in December 1954, in west London, in which six people were hurt and the roof of Gunnersbury London Underground station was ripped off. The last tornado which caused significant damage in London was in December 1954.
Six people were hurt and the roof of Gunnersbury London Underground station was ripped off.