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Storm Doris causes chaos across Norfolk and Suffolk

A tree has fallen onto a house on Gloucester Way on the Abbey Estate, Thetford. Picture: Rebecca Murphy Archant

About 25,000 homes across East Anglia remain without power overnight due to Storm Doris - and some may not be restored until Friday afternoon.

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The region is preparing for a major clear up after wind speeds reached up to 81mph in Weybourne.

About 25,000 homes in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are without power and some may not be restored until Friday afternoon.

Officers from Norfolk Constabulary, Norfolk Fire and Rescue and the East of England Ambulance Trust took hundreds of calls specifically related to the storms since 8am on Thursday.

MORE: Damage assessed as Storm Doris passes through Great Yarmouth



Norfolk police took more than 450 weather-related highways calls, including road traffic collisions and highway obstructions since 10am. Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service have seen more than 145 calls regarding structural damage, road collisions, obstructions and highway services related incidents.

East of England Ambulance Trust have responded to 55 incidents related to the high winds affecting people; these include traffic collisions, but in the main are calls to people who have fallen over when caught up in a gust of wind. Highways officers have attended 235 incidents of fallen trees in the county.

MORE: Lucky escape for passengers after Storm Doris blows over a double deckerbus in Walton Highway

T/ACC Mike Fawcett, the Local Policing commander for Norfolk, offered the following advice to drivers with journey’s planned for this evening: “I would reiterate our advice to anyone thinking of leaving their home this evening to ask that question: do I need to make this journey?

“If the answer is ‘yes’ then please bear in mind that your journey will be made more dangerous by these conditions, consider the potential hazard of flying debris and use an appropriate mode of transport, as motorbikes and bicycles are particularly vulnerable in the high winds.

“As you might also expect, all emergency services in the county are still receiving a high volume of 999 calls so we would also ask you to consider if your call is appropriate before dialling, and we also ask for your patience as you may be waiting longer than usual for your call to be dealt with.”

MORE: Thousands of homes without power in Norfolk and Forest Heath area as Storm Doris hits region

There has also been major disruption on the trains, which is likely to remain until the end of the day.

A fallen tree has blocked all lines between Norwich and Lowestoft, a tree blocked the line at Attleborough, some lines are blocked between Needham Market and Norwich due to overhead wire problems and there a delays between Great Yarmouth and Norwich due to high winds.

Other services affected included the 8pm London Liverpool Street to Norwich service and the 8.30pm Norwich to London Liverpool Street service which were both cancelled due to overhead wire problems.

Meanwhile, the 9pm London Liverpool Street to Norwich service has been delayed due to a fallen tree damaging the overhead electric wires.

It was due to arrive in the city at 10.19pm but is noww expected at 10.53pm.

MORE: Tesco store in Norwich closed due to Storm Doris

A spokesperson for Norwich Airport said flights landed and took off without major delays but video footage has emerged of planes struggling to land at the airport due to the wind. One KLM flight to Amsterdam has been cancelled due to the non-departure of the incoming flight from Schiphol.

One the buses, all X1 services between Peterborough and Norwich were suspended due to high winds and services 11 and 12 did not serve Old Cringleford due to weather conditions.

MORE: ‘I was scared’ - Three-year-old girl tells of shock after massive tree falls near her house during Storm Doris

The Tesco store at Harford Bridge in Norwich remains closed as a precautionary measure and there were delays in the area due to traffic light failures.

Norfolk County Council closed all their recycling centres, except the one at Mile Cross. They are likely to reopen on Friday.

Weatherquest forecaster Phil Garner said the strong winds were likely to continue into the evening.

MORE: Church roof blown off Gorleston Baptist Church by strong gust as Storm Doris takes hold

“They are starting to change direction now and coming round to the north, north west, but there are still winds in excess of 50mph on the north coast until about 8.30pm.

“It’s only after then that we’ll see things start to settle.”

He said that Friday would be a calmer day, with wind speeds dropping, temperatures hovering around 10C to 11C and little chance of rain.