HIGH winds, which had caused havoc across parts of the UK, were expected to ease today with Suffolk set for a milder spell of weather.Seven people were killed, roads blocked and thousands of homes left without power as stormy weather swept across the country yesterday.

HIGH winds, which had caused havoc across parts of the UK, were expected to ease today with Suffolk set for a milder spell of weather.

Seven people were killed, roads blocked and thousands of homes left without power as stormy weather swept across the country yesterday.

In Ipswich a sheet of corrugated tin threatened to plunge 100 feet as high winds ripped up the piece of temporary roofing from the top of the Cranfields factory.

If the sheet of iron had plunged to Quay Street below, anyone walking or driving underneath would have been in danger of being seriously hurt said police.

The only thing preventing it falling on to the street was a handrail, which it had caught on.

While police closed off part of the street yesterday afternoon, the fire service worked to retrieve the corrugated iron, which was balancing precariously above.

Renovations are in the middle of taking place in the building and the corrugated iron was being used as a temporary roof.

It took four hours before contract workers arrived at the scene to make it safe and the road could be re-opened.

Traffic wardens were in place to stop traffic passing through the area and diversions were put in place.

Assessments of the roof are due to be carried out today.

A spokesman for Suffolk police said: "The sheet that had come off was 100 feet up.

"If this had fallen and someone had been passing below it could have been very serious."

Elsewhere streets in Bury St. Edmunds also had to be closed off when tiles were ripped from the roof by extremely high winds.

Police were concerned that passing motorists or pedestrians might be hit by the tiles and closed off Bridewell Lane.