HOMES and businesses in Cockfield were left without power and telephone connections after strong winds brought down a tree in the village centre this morning.
A large tree along Front Street came down at about 8am as gusts of more than 54mph tore through the village.
Parish chairwoman Brenda Singleton said: “I have Northern Powergrid coming out with a rapid response team and I have the police coming out to make the place safe.”
Richard Eggleston, who lives nearby, added: “It was quite a bang, I could hear it in bed.”
The 26-year-old shift worker said part of the same tree had come down two years ago, also bringing down lines and cutting off power and telephones.
There was further disruption across the dale, with roads affected in upper Teesdale.
Full story in next week's Mercury
