WORKERS from Malvern Hills Highways Partnership and Malvern Hills Conservators joined forces on Sunday morning to keep the roads clear as the storm blew down trees all over the area.

Several blocked the A449 Malvern-Ledbury road on the approach to British Camp.

Ian Rowat, director of the Conservators, said these included a large oak tree and an ash.

Roads at Sherrards Green, on Jubilee Drive, at Guarlford and at Baughton, near Upton, were among those blocked.

In Malvern, trees also blew down on Foley Terrace, in Victoria Road car park, at Imperial Road and on the footpath between Waitrose and Worcester Road.

Mike Davis, of Malvern Hills highways partnership, said he had received "extensive" reports of trees down across roads. He said: "We had a total of almost 70 different incidents, one or two on Saturday night but most on Sunday morning, as people started to go out and about and discovered them.

"In situations like this, our priority is safety, making sure the roads are kept open for the emergency services."

Mr Rowat said there was extensive damage to trees across the Malvern Hills.

"I was in Thirds Wood on Sunday and it was like gunfire with limbs breaking and coming down," he said. Mr Rowat urged people visiting the hills to inspect the damage to take care.

"There are quite a few trees being held up only by the branches of other trees," he said. "I would advise people to be aware of what's above them. We'll be getting them cleared away as fast as we can."