Relief fund for tornado victims

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An emergency relief fund is being launched to help the victims of the tornado that wrecked homes in north-west London.

The appeal fund is being set up by Brent Council and the Willesden & Brent Times to help those displaced and made homeless by Thursday's tornado.

Details about the fund are expected to be announced at a meeting of Brent Council's executive on Monday evening.

The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has thrown his weight behind the appeal.

Brent Council Paul Lorber said: "This has happened three weeks before Christmas and we want to make sure that people can at least have a reasonable festive period.

"It's just about making sure their lives are a little bit more comfortable."

It is estimated that at least six families may not have enough insurance to cover the damage caused by the tornado - though this number could rise as some families are believed to be away on holiday.

Surveyors on site say progress is being made in rehousing people and that five more families have been allowed to return to their homes - bringing the number of uninhabitable homes down from 34 to 29.

No demolition of any properties is expected to take place.

Andy Hardy, director of building control for Brent Council, said: "It is now my opinion that no homes will be demolished as a result of the tornado. They can all be saved."

One road - Whitmore Gardens - is now the only road that remains closed as emergency services continue to assess the safety of the area.

Weatherproofing homes

Brent Council has moved its support centre to Kensal Rise Methodist Church Hall in Chamberlain Road.

At a meeting held at the venue on Saturday morning, residents were urged to contact their insurers as soon as possible.

Brent Council's Irfan Malik said: "Our surveyors are only supposed to make sure properties are structurally safe. It is residents' responsibility to get insurers in to do weatherproofing as soon as possible."

Brent Council has set up a residents' inquiries number which is open from 0900 to 1700 GMT daily on 0208 937 5255.