TWENTY five years ago Britain's most destructive storm in more than 280 years hit southern England claiming 18 lives and causing £1.5 billion of damage.
Not since the reign of Queen Anne in 1703 had nature's power been so utterly terrifying.
It was in the early hours of October 16, 1987 that 100mph winds swept across much of the UK battering ancient woodland and destroying houses.
Trees, some hundreds of years old, were snapped like matchsticks and toppled on to terrified homeowners as winds tore through neighbourhoods at the speed of an express train.
The Great Storm, as it became known, struck overnight on Friday October 15 and continued the following day, with gusts reaching record speeds.
The strong winds left a trail of devastation bringing the whole of Essex to a virtual standstill – and after no weather warning from forecasters.
Weatherman Michael Fish's famous line: "I am told there is a hurricane heading our way, but don't worry – it's not" have become legend.
Torrential rain and hurricane-force winds caused structural damage to buildings, electricity pylons and water supplies.
In total the storm left Brentwood District Council with a clear-up bill of £100,000. It received 3,000 calls for help during the weekend, several hundred from people suffering house structure damage.
Essex County Council was left with a staggering £8 million repair bill.
The storm also left many people with no power for water, and no electricity for cooking, heating or lighting – only those with gas had an alternative source.
More than 400 homes in Brentwood were still blacked out mid-week after power cables were pulled down. Between 200 and 300 homes were without power in Fryerning and Ingatestone.
Eastern Electricity described the scale as a "disaster situation".
Many people struggled to work as railways and roads were affected by fallen trees with the whole of the East Anglian network brought to a standstill.
Numerous fallen trees and power cables blocked lines in Essex, causing chaos as commuters were turned away at local stations on Friday morning.
The early bird newspaper train from London was forced to stop at Ingatestone at 3am having run into one fallen tree, with another pinned against its side.
Forestry workers from as far away as Leeds and Wellingborough were drafted in to help clear the destruction.
Areas of Brentwood were completely devastated. Holdens Wood at Warley Gap was flattened and for half a mile at The Avenue, workmen battled to fell 70 trees which threatened to collapse on the road.
Hutton Fire Brigade headquarters dealt with a record 5,000 emergency calls during the storms – a third of the average annual number.
Brentwood firefighters worked round the clock over the weekend answering a flood of calls throughout the town.
At Western Road they dragged two cars from under trees which had badly crushed both vehicles.
Power cables were made safe when they came down in North Drive, Hutton and Coxtie Green Road.
Partially toppled trees were felled in Worrin Road, Wingrave Crescent and Crown Street.
You can read some Essex people's memories by clicking the links to their stories on the right.