A couple have told of their shock after the roof of their home was ripped off as gales of up to 50mph battered south Essex.

Brian Kennedy, 58, and his wife Jackie, were at home watching television at 9pm on Sunday when a fierce gust got under the felt on their roof and sent it flying into the front garden.

As rain sprayed the upstairs bedrooms, the frantic couple called the fire service and a crew from Rochford spent an hour battling the wind as they put a large tarpaulin sheet in place as a makeshift roof.

Mr Kennedy, of Nutscombe Crescent, said: "My wife and I were downstairs watching television and we heard a whoosh. We thought it was a firework and didn't think anything of it.

"But then our neighbour came round saying they had heard a loud noise as well and that's when we went outside and found the roof in the front garden. It was pitch black and pouring with rain so we didn't know what else to do but call the fire brigade.

"They came really quickly and did their best to patch the roof up and stop the water getting in, but the weather was so bad it wasn't easy."

He added: "Rain started coming in again at about 5am this morning.

"We called out a repair company this morning and the problem has been patched up for now.

"We can only pray that the weather holds off - it has been a complete nightmare."

Storm victim - Brian Kennedy at home

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