A Bradford resident has spoken out after strong winds blew wooden planks from scaffolding outside block of flats.
Steven Dalton, who lives at Byram Court on Shipley Fields Road, Shipley, contacted the Telegraph & Argus about the danger from falling planks.
Mr Dalton said: “Today around my flat at Byram Court, the wood walkway from scaffolding was blown off all around the flats.
Scaffolding on the ground outside a block of flats in Shipley
“I just got out of bed at around 12.30pm and I saw a dark shadow fly past my window.
“I thought: ‘What the hell was that?'
“I looked out and the plank just missed a car.
“If that had hit somebody, it would have killed them.
“There is a lot of footfall in this area, so someone could have been very badly hurt.”
Mr Dalton described Storm Boelo’s winds as “horrendous” and said he was amazed by their strength.
He said: “It was horrible and the wind was horrendous.
“The wood planks you walk on were just coming off. Those planks are really heavy.
“That wind must have had some strength to literally lift them up and throw them down.
“It’s amazing really that the wind could lift something that heavy.
“This storm has been devastating and a risk to life.”
The safety of the wooden planks prompted concerns from many local residents.
Mr Dalton said: “I called the police first but realised the fire service deals with structural issues.
“I wasn’t the only one, as a few people called because they were concerned about the structure’s safety.
“The fire brigade had to come out and remove many of the planks to secure the building.
“Apparently, the fire service received several calls about scaffolding today.
“Our whole building needs a roof, so the scaffolding was put up for repairs.
“The fire service decided to take down most of the wooden planks to secure the building and make the area safe.
“The metal scaffolding was really secure, but firefighters removed the wood so it wouldn’t be at risk of blowing down in the wind.”
He said firefighters removed about 20 wooden planks and piled them outside the flats.
He said they also taped off the area to warn people.
The Telegraph & Argus contacted West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for comment.
The Met Office forecast gusts of 60 to 70mph as Storm Boelo moved closer, with exposed coastal areas potentially seeing 80mph winds.