STORM-FORCE winds of up to 60mph yesterday brought havoc to the region.

Residents of a retirement home had to be moved after a tree crashed on to the building.

The rotten sycamore fell on the roof of Rosedale Residential Home, in Catterick Road, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, at about 4.20am.

Muriel Gazzard, the home's matron manager, said that, fortunately, no one was injured.

Tree surgeons and builders were called to remove the debris and repair the damage.

A lorry carrying tonnes of foam blew on to its side at the junction of the A66 and the B6274 near East Layton, on the border between Durham and North Yorkshire.

Two people had to be freed by firefighters, and both were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The road was closed for five hours while the vehicle was removed, and re-opened just before noon.

Police also closed the A66 between Scotch Corner and Appleby, in Cumbria, to high-sided vehicles and caravans because of gusting winds.

Sergeant Gary Hewitt, of County Durham Police, said they had to put out a fresh appeal to HGV drivers after it emerged many were ignoring the warning not to use the road.

Newton Cap Viaduct, at Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was also closed for a time to high-sided vehicles.

Across County Durham and North Yorkshire, there were reports of trees being blown over, while a lamp-post collapsed at Hemlington Row, Crook, County Durham, blocking a road.

Elsewhere, overnight rain caused flooding on the A68 at Allensford, near Consett.

The blustery conditions also affected trains, with 80mph restrictions being put in place on the East Coast Mainline between York and Newcastle amid fears that overhead power lines could be blown down.

The restrictions were lifted at about 10am yesterday.

A spokesman for the Met Office said gusts of more than 55mph were recorded at Leeming, near Bedale, North Yorkshire.

Forecasters said today would again be windy for many, with rain at times.