TEACHERS and children as young as three were forced to run for their lives after gales ripped the roof off a pre-school building.

Five children and two teachers were inside Edenfield Community Centre, near Bury, at the time.

The building is used as a base by Edenfield Village Pre-School.

Windows smashed into the classroom and one wall of the building completely caved in on to the floor, inches from where the children were sitting.

Miraculously, no one was hurt, despite glass, bricks and timber being thrown into the classroom.

Shocked teachers told how they picked the children up and ran outside to safety.

Parents also described the impact it had on their children.

Miracle

Supervisor Jean Plum was in the building at the time and said it was a miracle that no one was hurt. She said: "It was very, very frightening. All the training just kicked in and we just thought to get all the children out.

"First a window was blown in then the whole roof blew off. The wall caved into the classroom from the side. We just grabbed hold of the children and ran outside and up the road.

"The children were very upset and there was screaming and crying. It was just awful."

Julie Leek, the school's second supervisor, said 12 children had attended lessons in the morning. The gale struck during afternoon classes.

Parents joined teachers in a huge salvage operation throughout the day. Books, toys and children's artwork were strewn across the floor alongside the debris. The collapsed side of the building was left exposed to the elements overnight.

Rossendale council inspectors were due to assess the building today.

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