'Mini Tornado' strikes JCB World HQ

The hurricane force winds are thought to have exceeded 80 MPH. Credit: JCB

Production lines at JCB ground to a halt this afternoon after the firms HQ was struck by the Tornado force winds which swept the region. The hurricane force winds which are thought to have excessed 80 MPH tore into the side of the factory where backhoe loaders are produced at the World HQ in Rocester, Staffordshire, causing a wall to collapse and windows to fall to the ground.

Production was suspended for 30 minutes while safety checks were carried out. Clear up operations then began and the area beyond the wall declared safe for production to continue. No-one was injured in the incident and the area has now been cordoned off.JCB Backhoe Assembly Manager Richard Williams, of Stramshall, near Uttoxeter, said:

Clear up operations began and the area has now been declared safe. Credit: JCB

A JCB spokesman said:

No-one was injured in the incident and the area has now been cordoned off. Credit: JCB