STORMS hit Oxfordshire yesterday ripping a roof off some flats and causing a power cut.

Strong winds battered the county in the afternoon leaving 900 homes without power.

The roof blew off the flats in Rowland Close, Wolvercote, damaging a camper van and a parked car.

Bricks were also ripped off adjoining homes, along with a metal chimney.

Mike Ledger, who lives in the flat with the least damage, said: “We heard an almighty bump on the roof and suddenly it was all on the floor.”

An Oxfordshire Fire Service spokesman said two fire engines were sent to make the area safe at 2.30pm and left at 4.40pm.

Stormy weather uprooted a tree at about 2.30pm in Hunt Close, Bicester. The tree did not damage anything around it and was cleared away by staff from Bicester Town Council within a few hours.

Last night Scottish and Southern Electric said it was working to restore power to about 900 homes. Towns and villages affected included Wheatley, Faringdon, Bampton and Great Milton.