A couple from Rutland say they are lucky to be alive after a holiday of a lifetime saw them in an underground shelter where the roof blew off
due to winds of up to 175 miles an hour as Hurricane Melissa hit their holiday resort in Jamaica. Nigel Thomas and his partner Nickie have returned home this week as they were able to catch a flight away from the devastation. Nigel describes the moment they've been evacuated to a shelter as the hurricane hit.
‘We were sitting out and we could hear these massive bangs, like a car hitting the roof and stuff. So I said to her, we will go down the other end near the toilets, there’s a passageway there, sort of feel a bit safer down there for some reason. And then ten minutes later, it ripped the roof off the actual building. While you were in it? While we were in it. Yeah. And, you know, and then everybody went into panic and then it was literally like a disaster movie. The way that people acted, people running, screaming, some praying, yeah, I mean and stuff like that. And then eventually we got ushered downstairs with no lights or anything. The lights had gone out and we had to stay there for another seven or eight hours even though the storm had gone because they had do inspections on the place. We went to bed at night you know we managed to go back to the room, when we got up in the morning and you could just see the devastation. You know it was absolutely unbelievable to be quite honest with you. I've never witnessed anything like it in my life.’
South Kesteven District Council is holding two workshops next month, including one in Stamford, which will help shape the council's view on Artificial Intelligence.
Ten personnel from RAF Wittering are taking part in a test of endurance and stamina this morning to raise money for CALM, a leading suicide prevention charity.
Restrictions continue at Rutland's tips at Cottesmore and North Luffenham as they're unable to take household waste until further notice, and now any upholstered furniture.
Fire and Rescue services that cover the Rutland and Stamford area are continuing to urge locals to look after the countryside and not use any sources of ignition.
Well over 13,000 visitors are expected at the Rutland Showground over the next three days for the second annual Rutland Flower Show, which promises to build even further on last year's successful first event.
The leader of Rutland County Council's Conservative opposition got cross-party support last night for her motions to ask the council to quiz the government on why they decided to join Rutland with all the Leicestershire districts in local government reorganisation and to seek a written assurance of Rutland ceremonial county status.
Police arrest two teenagers over assault in Oakham
Weekend sports round up
