Family whose home was destroyed by tornado in Stalybridge say they're lucky to be alive
It's been one week since the winds caused by Storm Gerrit affected around 100 homes in the town
A week on from homes being destroyed by a tornado in Stalybridge, one family whose house was completely destroyed say they are lucky to be alive.
On Wednesday night, roofs were torn off houses and trees blown down after a tornado ripped through the town.
Greater Manchester Police declared a major incident about 11:45pm on Wednesday.
About 100 homes were damaged in the storm and people were asked to avoid the area.
There were no injuries reported.
Rebecca Saycell lives on Hough Hill Road with her parents and brothers. She was at home on the evening and thought there had been an earthquake or hurricane: "All the glass and the windows were shaking. It felt like it was lifting off the floor.
"My dad was at the top of the stairs and screaming to get out!"
Rebecca says it is a miracle neither of her brothers were harmed: "He was on like an office chair, so as the chimney comes through the wall, it's pushed him out of the way, so he's managed to get out without a scratch.
"You look at the damage and you think he should have died!
Speaking about her other brother, Rebecca said: "He's got a top bunk, he's got his gaming desk and stuff underneath, he was sat under there playing his game.
"The bed has took the roof from the top of him, so if that wasn't there it would have just hit him straight away."
Rebecca said it's been devastating looking through the rubble: "Trophies, things that you've got as a child... My mum had baby boxes for all of us and they're gone
"We went through everything and there's some pictures we've managed to save but everything that's memorable and childhood has gone...
"The bathrooms completely gone, towels, toothpastes, the little things that you think you can just spend... but it's hundreds of pounds..."
Rebecca said the community have been very generous and are helping the family re-build from scratch: "We've had tradesman come out and do half price.
"For everyone that's donated, it has made the house safe and we're so grateful.
"We're struggling for wood so anyone that has wood spare, even just ply boarding. A bag of plaster helps, bag of screws helps us, because that's £50 we don't have to spend on screws."