ROOF'S TORN OFF

A FAMILY yesterday told how they feared they were going to die as a tornado ripped their home to pieces.

- PAUL BYRNE

Gareth and Lyndsey Moody and three of their children had a lucky escape when the twister struck shortly before midnight on Wednesday.

They scrambled to safety over bricks, timber and slates after the tornado ripped off their roof and sent rubble plunging into their rooms.

The home was one of damaged 100 in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, as Storm Gerrit brought havoc to parts of the UK.

Three men died yesterday after a 4x4 vehicle they were in plunged into the River Esk near Glaisdale on the North York Moors

The storm caused travel chaos with roads closed. and ferries and flights cancelled, while 1,500 homes were still without power last night.

Gareth and Lyndsey, both 45, were in bed when the twister hit.

Mum-of-four Lyndsey, an A&E nurse, said: "We were lucky to get out alive. We could be dead. The house started shaking. I went to the window, it was like it was sucking in and out.

"The whole ceiling came down. I screamed, the hallway gave way.