A CLEAN up operation to deal with the effects of Storm Doris was launched after high winds battered north Essex.

Assessors attended Bentleigh Court off Greenstead Road, Colchester, where the 70mph gusts blew the roof of the block of flats.

About 64 of the flats were evacuated and residents were left waiting to hear when they would be able to move back into their homes.

Workmen on the scene on Friday said it was likely scaffolding would have to be placed around the buildings so overhanging debris could be removed and then repair work could begin.

The site was still heavily boarded up but the heavy police cordon had been lifted, with residents able to get back into their homes to pick up valuables.

Issaka Zango, 22, who had lived in the flats for just three months, was allowed back in to pick up his pet cats Knightrider and Yuki, as well as bearded dragon Luna and his collection of snails.

He said: “We had to leave them here on Thursday because we did not know the total extent of what was happening at the time.

“Me and my girlfriend are staying at a friend’s until we know what is happening but I think they are still assessing how bad the damage is.

“It was quite scary - we looked out the window and bricks were flying down.

“We are on the top floor but our block is slightly lower set, so there wasn’t too much damage to our roof but it was the ones around it where things were flying off.

“The police were here really quickly and blocked off the roads around.

“Reasonable accommodation costs are being covered as well which is quite good.”

Colchester Council set up a rest centre at Colchester Leisure World but no residents attended and Essex University was prepared to offer temporary accommodation to students living in Bentleigh Court,but they made alternative arrangements.

Council bosses said Tendring escaped the worst of the damage and disruption caused by the storm.

At one point 1,500 homes in the Lawford and Manningtree area lost power but it was restored by early evening.

In the Little Clacton, Wrabness and Ardleigh areas about 250 properties were still affected by a loss of power by the time Tendring Council’s emergency response centre closed following the worst of the storm at 8.30pm.

The council dealt with 18 fallen trees across the district. The gable end of a house in Little Oakley crushed an empty Vauxhall Corsa car, and minor damage was reported at Martello, Hutleys, and Seawick holiday parks, as well as fence panels being lost in numerous locations.

Tendring Council spokesman Nigel Brown said: “It was a long day for a number of staff who remained on duty but fortunately we seem to have escaped some of the more serious damage experienced in others parts of the country.”