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Battered homes to be demolished Battered homes to be demolished
(about 1 hour later)
Some of the homes hit 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 by the tornado which swept through north-west London will have to be demolished and others remain too dangerous to enter.
Eight families were found temporary accommodation on Thursday night while others stayed with family and friends after the storm hit Kensal Rise. More than 100 homes were damaged and about were 20 left uninhabitable when the storm hit Kensal Rise on Thursday.
Six people were injured, one seriously, and up to 150 homes were damaged. Insurance assessors are continuing to assess the damage which is expected to cost millions of pounds to repair.
Insurance assessors are still assessing the damage, but it is expected to run into millions of pounds. Brent Council said it was working to get people back in their homes as soon as possible but safety was a priority.
Quite dangerous
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.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
"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."
Residents were given details about the most badly damaged properties at a meeting on Friday morning.
There are problems with roofs and chimneys teetering Irfan Malik, Brent Council
They were told that Crediton Road and Chamberlayne Road should open later on Friday but Whitmore Gardens will take "a lot longer".
Irfan Malik, of Brent Council, said: "There are 20 properties in total that we believe are uninhabitable and some of them are in fact quite dangerous.
"There are problems with roofs and chimneys teetering."
He also advised those who were told they could return home to wear hard hats when walking around their properties.
"The walls have collapsed, there are tiles on top of the roofs which may be sort of stuck in the gutters and may come loose if you try to go round and start cleaning up," he said.
Police patrols
Residents from the most badly damaged houses were also told that they would be able to return, with hard hats and protective clothing, to collect their personal belongings.
Up to 150 homes have been affected. Photo by Joe C Claiming for tornado damage
Police officers have been stationed at the cordons to ensure the affected properties are secure.
The roof of one house was ripped off, debris was sent flying and trees in the streets were uprooted.The roof of one house was ripped off, debris was sent flying and trees in the streets were uprooted.
Six roads were sealed off after the emergency services were called to the area at 1100 GMT on Thursday.Six roads were sealed off after the emergency services were called to the area at 1100 GMT on Thursday.
Witnesses reported heavy rain and sleet just before the tornado struck. The tornado was rated as a T4 on a scale of one to 10 with winds exceeding 100mph (160km/h).
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. A Brent Council spokeswoman said they found temporary accommodation for eight families while others stayed with family and friends.
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."
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 went to try to take a picture of it but a shower of debris smashed all the windows of my house."
The tornado was rated as a T4 on a scale of one to 10 with winds moving at more than 100mph (160kph).
Brent Council said 24 homes were uninhabitable but everyone had been found a place to stay for the night.
Damage assessed
A spokeswoman said a respite centre set up by the council in Legion Hall on Albert Road was closed at 2330GMT.
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 was caused by the tornado which struck Birmingham in 2005.
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.