Wiltshire Council is coping with the affects of a vicious storm which struck the region last night.

The severe weather, which included heavy rainfall and winds of up to 80mph, has seen staff from the council’s highways contractor Balfour Beatty Living Places working through the night to make the Wiltshire’s roads safe for Christmas commuters. While, tree surgeons have also been out clearing trees which have fallen.

Wiltshire Councillor John Thomson, cabinet member for highways, said: “We had a hell of a hit last night but we were well prepared to react thanks to the early warnings which showed bad weather was coming.

“It is obviously a complex operation but we haven’t come across any problem we couldn’t tackle. Although, I would say, it is the same old story that people shouldn’t make a journey unless it is absolutely necessary. I appreciate, at this time of the year it is easier said than done but people really shouldn’t be taking risks.”

Cllr Thomson also stressed that anyone who encounters a fallen tree should not try and remove it themselves and call the council.

He said: “As I’ve said many times before in these instances, you just don’t know whether a fallen tree may have brought down live cables or anything like that, so the public shouldn’t try to move a tree themselves.”

Anyone wishing to report a highways issue to Wiltshire Council can visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/highwaysreportingform, call 0800 232323 or log it on the My Wiltshire free smartphone app.

For further weather updates visit @WiltshireWinter twitter account.