HEAVY showers and gale force winds continued to wreak havoc in Swindon yesterday.

Wiltshire police received a number of weather related calls throughout Tuesday night and well into yesterday afternoon after trees, traffic lights and canopies suffered in the strong winds.

At 11pm on Tuesday, officers were called to Fox Hill after a tree came down outside The Burj Indian restaurant, posing a danger to motorists.

At 9.42am yesterday, police received reports that traffic lights on Thamesdown Drive had come down due to the winds. Swindon Council staff made the scene safe.

At 10am branches were reported across the A419 near Cricklade, and at 11.42am a tree came down on the southbound carriageway of the A419. It is not thought anybody was hurt in the incident.

At 11.30am, officers were called to Stone Lane in Lydiard Millicent after another fallen tree blocked the road for drivers. A fire crew was called to Kidz About on Mead Way on Tuesday morning shortly before 11am because of the high winds. A lighting canopy above the entrance hall was hanging dangerously after being dislodged by the gusts.

The aerial appliance from Drove Road was also called later to help deal with the problem as the height of 8 metres was considered too dangerous to use ladders.

The bad weather is set to last into the weekend with the Met Office maintaining a weather warning over the town until Saturday.

While today is due to be sunnier, heavy rain and high winds are set to hit the town during the night, with gusts of up to 50mph and up to 25mm of rain forecasted.

This pattern is set to continue into Saturday, with the weather warning upgrading to ‘Be Prepared’ before it eases on Sunday.

A spokesman for the Met Office warned people to take care over the next few days.

She said: “Rainfall has become a big issue but over the next few days the wind is going to become a big factor, so we would ask people to take care.

“We would ask people to only make their journey if they have to and to keep an eye on the forecast as the weather warning could be upgraded over the coming days.”