Production disrupted at JCB after mini-tornado damages factory

PRODUCTION was disrupted at the Staffordshire headquarters of excavator manufacturer JCB after a mini-tornado swept in, blowing down walls at the plant.

The company said hurricane force winds tore into the side of the factory, where its famous backhoe loaders are produced, causing a wall to collapse and windows smashed.

Production was suspended for 30 minutes while safety checks were carried out.

Clear up operations then began and the area beyond the wall was declared safe for production to continue.

No-one was injured in the incident and the area was cordoned off until repairs could be carried out.

JCB Backhoe Assembly Manager Richard Williams said: “I was about 30 yards away at the time and I heard an enormous crash. I turned around and saw the wall and the windows had come out and a big whirlwind of leaves and branches blowing around outside. Luckily no-one was in the vicinity at the time.”

The cost of the damage has yet to be assessed.