Prudhoe Legion devastated by Storm Arwen

The Legion, Front Street, North, saw its concert room ruined after extreme wind, rain and snow battered the county after a red 'risk to life' weather warning was issued.

The roof of the concert room, which plays hosts to private functions and live music, came off in the extreme weather conditions.

Internally, furniture, tiles, a dance floor and stage and carpets have been destroyed in the area which had been booked out until January. Storage rooms used by community groups have also been ruined.

"It was quite devastating", said club steward Glenn McCann. "I was actually in the concert room when the roof came off."

Customers on the premises at the time were evacuated and the building was closed while the fire service and staff dealt with the incident.

The club has since reopened its bar area which is separate to the concert room - improved seven years ago on stilts. It is expected to be months before the concert room will reopen again.

"It's a case of two halves", said Glenn. "One half that's pretty much intact and one half that's ruined.

"The concert room has become the difference between us making a loss and making a profit.

"We open up after covid and we're struggling, the club's picking up again, and then this has come and hit us.

"Thankfully, we're covered by insurance but its still a blow. We know that once it's all cleared out and rebuilt again, we're going to have to start that process again. It just seems to go from one catastrophe to another.

"If it had been the Saturday, we'd have had a full room. In one way, it was lucky it happened on the Friday when that room was empty."

Nortumberland County Councillor Gordon Stewart, who represents Prudhoe South, has visited the club and met members of the its management.

He said: "This has been a devastating blow to this well run and popular club.

"I know the Prudhoe community will wish them all the best and support them any way they can, the club is at the heart of the community."