Care home roof crashes into house as Storm Eunice batters Britain

The roof of a care home has been ripped off the building and has crashed into a nearby house and garden as Storm Eunice shook Britain, but miraculously no one has been hurt.

At 10am today (18 February), Storm Eunice battered the roof of River View care setting in Plymouth and tore it off the building.

A red weather warning had been issued for the South West and South East of England because of Storm Eunice - alerting people of the danger to life and flying debris. The devastation caused by the flying roof has shaken care workers, residents and the occupants of the house it damaged, when it crashed back down to earth.

The damage wrought on a family home included smashed windows in the house as the roof fell, with a giant piece of roof measuring approximately 40 metres by 10 metres landing in the garden. Other parts of the roof are reported to be in trees around the street in Catterick Close.

Care group 'deeply concerned'

River View is an extra care housing scheme made up of 40 units lived in by elderly and disabled residents, who will now be temporarily relocated, as a result of the damage.

A spokeswoman for the Aster Group, which runs River View care home, said: “We’re deeply concerned about the ongoing situation at River View.

“Our absolute priority is the safety of our customers and we’re working with the local authority and emergency services to respond to the situation.

“Colleagues from our customer services team are on site providing reassurance to those affected and we’ll continue to work closely with our partners to ensure suitable temporary accommodation and support is available to every customer.”

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police were notified at around 10am to reports that part of a roof had blown off a residential home on Hornchurch Road in Plymouth. Fire services are on the scene and no injuries have been reported."

With the public urged to stay at home because of the danger to life posed by Storm Eunice with fallen trees, flying debris and power lost in people's homes, concerns have been raised for care workers travelling to help people needing care in their own homes.

Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway expressed her own fears on TV for home care workers travelling to care for her husband Derek Draper who has been living with long Covid.

"People that are vital to keeping him safe don’t necessarily live next door", said Kate Garraway.