Remnants of of an occasional blustery spell that wreaked havoc on the Isle of White have begun to affect roads and properties in the home counties. Schools and shops have been advised to close early before the full effect of the potentially devastating weather front is felt. Rustling leaves have already been reported in Hove, whilst one Eastbourne resident claims to have seen a bus ticket fluttering past the window of his bungalow. A number of families in Thanet have set up a temporary refuge in a local community centre after a weather vane was seen moving in the town.
An unnamed BBC weatherman compared the postential risks to those of October 1987's Great Storm.
"Although as it approached mainland UK its been downgraded from a gentle to a mild breeze, and the risk to property and people is entirely negligible, we should remain vigilant and take every opportunity to have at least an hour or two off to panic unnecessarily".
A number of prestigious events have already been cancelled to protect the public including the annual Shepton Mallet Nano Technology In Biomedical Research Symposium and the unveiling of the Duchess of Cornwall on Hampstead Heath.
