Fire crews said it was lucky no one was hurt when a commercial building partially collapsed during Storm Isha.

Firefighters and police worked through the night after the wall collapsed in Welch Way as the town was battered by gale force winds on Sunday night (January 21).

The Met Office issued a yellow wind warning for the south east and warned that Storm Isha’s high winds could cause transport delays, power cuts and damage to properties.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service posted pictures of bricks and rubble which landed in the street in the centre of Witney.

People took to social media in the middle of the night to share pictures from the scene.

Oxford Mail: Building at midnight on Sunday

One posted: "Might want to advise people to avoid Welch Way. The side of the old Costa has blown off in the wind."

One Witney Spotted poster said: "Good job it wasn't at a busier time of day."

Another said: "Wow, good job no one was under there!"

Witney councillor David Edwards-Hughes thanked fire crews "for all that you’re doing in these awful conditions!"

Police took over the scene in the early hours of Monday morning when the area remained cordoned off “to prevent injury should there be further collapse”.

Temporary traffic lights were set up and Welch Way was partially closed and shoppers were asked to stay away as structural investigations got under way.

Thames Valley Police said: "Welch Way remains closed while structural engineers look to make the area safe.

"There are no injuries, and the closure is as a precaution in case further debris falls from the building.

"We are managing the road closure, which will remain in place until the building has been made safe."

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service added: "Traffic light management is in place to control a partial closure of Welch Way.

"A surveyor will be attending this morning to carry out an assessment of the rest of the property and to clear debris.

"This remains a Thames Valley Police incident. For any queries please contact TVP quoting URN 2001-21/01/24.

"Thank you to the Witney community for your understanding."

Oxford Mail: Former Costa Coffee

The building is the former Costa Coffee which closed in June 2023 and the unit is being advertised to let.

It was built in 2013 after Birmingham-based Realis Estates Ltd applied to demolish the former Merlins discount store and replace it with a two-storey one.

The new building comprises a mixture of national retailers including Greggs, Card Factory and The Works.

Witney Fire Station said: "There were no other building collapses of this nature that occurred across Oxfordshire overnight due to Storm Isha.

"The service did receive calls regarding fallen trees across roadways but no other property damage was reported."

Realis Estates Ltd has been contacted.