Belfast: Walls collapse at Lawnbrook Avenue in storm

Walls on a row of derelict buildings in west Belfast have collapsed in strong overnight winds.

No-one was injured when the walls of the old buildings at Lawnbrook Avenue off the Shankill Road fell at about 04:00 GMT.

At the time, gusts were reaching speeds of more than 60mph in parts of Northern Ireland, the Met Office said.

Some residents said they were unhappy about the lack of protection around the structure.

The trail of rubble stretched across the street on Saturday.

Workers were on site to clear up the fallen bricks. It is understood one vehicle was slightly damaged.

A woman who lives on the street said that she hid in her house when she heard the noise.

"I just heard this big bang and didn't know what was happening, it scared the life out of me" she said.

"I thought my house was coming down and I just hid at the back."

In a statement, the Housing Executive said "We are liaising with the contractor who is in possession of the site to make sure the site is secure and that any buildings are safe."

TUV councillor Jolene Bunting said the houses had been empty for some time and were an "eye sore".

"From speaking to local residents, it is clear that there is considerable concern about what will happen in this area in the future," she said.

"I will do all I can to ensure that suitable homes are built for the community."