A STORM has erupted between residents and property developers following last week's gales.

Residents living in the new Garden City luxury housing estate in Holcombe Brook awoke last Friday to find tiles had been blown off their £160,00 houses, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Mrs Heather Ward, who lives on Beauly Close, said: "I couldn't believe it. The houses have only been here for a few months and nearby buildings which have been here for years were not damaged."

Around 15 houses on the estate were damaged by winds.

Mrs Ward said after she and her neighbours contacted Wainhomes, the developers agreed to repair the roofs as a "gesture of goodwill."

"But what about the next time we have strong winds, and who is going to pay for the damage caused by the falling tiles to my car and garage which is going to cost at least £2,000," said Mrs Ward. s She added: "I even asked them for hard hats for we will need them every time we have bad weather. The falling tiles could so easily have hit someone!"

Residents living on the new David McCleans development, Swallow Rise in Tottington, said their £69,000 houses had suffered roof damage.

"We feel very let down as we did not expect to lose roof tiles, or any other part of the exterior of the house for that matter, just two months after the completion date," said Mr Chris Shields of Brownhills Close, Tottington.

He threatened: "Houses are not yet sold. Now we will be only too happy to point out the damaged roofs to any prospective viewers and purchasers."

A spokesman for Wainhomes refused to comment in detail about the damage their houses suffered but said: "The matter was in hand."

Mr David Williams, managing director of David McClean Homes, said: "Although we are responsible for ensuring tiles are fixed in accordance with manufacturers recommendations to with stand 'normal' guests of wind, damage arising from severe gales as we have experienced recently, is considered exceptional and is therefore not covered under warranty."

Pictured is Beauley Close resident Gilllian Wrigglesworth showing the damage the roof tile caused to her car.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.