THE occupant of a Quarry Bank flat was lucky to escape without injury when part of a roof collapsed into the street below as Storm Ophelia blustered through the Black Country.

Brierley Hill firefighters were called out to the scene just before 6pm last night (Tuesday) after a gable end of a row of terraces in Quarry Bank High Street was reported to have collapsed.

Bluewatch watch commander Rob Fulwood said firefighters closed the road and called out a structural engineer and highways officers after being alerted to the damaged property, which was part of a row of nine shops with flats above.

But he said no-one was injured and the occupant of the flat had managed to evacuate the property unscathed.

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "Part of the High Street was closed throughout the night.

“We left the incident with the police and Dudley Council."

Council highways chiefs said the road was partially opened this morning with a stop-go system in operation, with temporary traffic signals due to be installed later today.