Clean-up begins after Burnham seafront pounded by huge storm waves

Published: March 11, 2008
Clean-up begins after Burnham seafront pounded by huge storm waves

Heavy seas, whipped up by 70mph winds, led to this huge buoy breaking free and being left wedged underneath Burnham's jetty following a major storm on Monday evening (March 10th).

Burnham seafront was pounded by huge waves, with plumes of spray sent into the streets and along The Esplanade - as captured in this online video clip.

The 70mph storm left pools of sea water along the Esplanade - but there was no serious flooding or damage as feared.

The Environment Agency close the town's flood gates for two hours either side of the 8.52pm high tide at the jetty, Sailing Club and Maddock's Slade. They also closely monitored the storm from the seafront.

The storm left damage across the area, with fences and trees brought down, as pictured below.

The storm sent waves crashing onto the sea wall, sending plumes of spray onto The Esplanade

The winds caused this wall to collapse in Berrow

The felting from on the roof of this garden shed was stripped away by the wind

This fence at Asda in Highbridge was one of many blown down by the winds

An operation to right the beached buoy was launched on Tuesday morning, with the help of an RNLI tractor

... but with no luck in moving the 2.5 tonne buoy, a JCB tractor was brought and the buoy was eventually lifted onto a truck and taken to Burnham Sailing Club where it will be stored for a while before being taken back to its normal position in Bridgwater Bay as 'Number One buoy'.