Gale force winds from Storm Doris caused disruption and damage across Cambridge on Thursday, with gusts exceeding 65 miles per hour during the day.

High winds led to windows being smashed at several colleges, prompting several colleges to send emails to students warning them to shut their windows immediately, and to keep them closed until further notice.

An email sent to Magdalene students reported that open windows had left some rooms “unprotected from the storm” and, as a result, there was “broken glass everywhere”.

A window in the tower of Selwyn College was blown out by the strong winds, leaving the leading hanging off the roof of the college. At Newnham, an entire windowpane was ripped off entirely, shattering on the ground. Newnham student Celia Petrie told Varsity: “The wind suddenly picked up and an entire windowpane from the second floor of the building was ripped off. It landed about 10 metres to my right and glass shattered everywhere.”

Colleges further advised their students to avoid areas particularly susceptible to falling debris, as gusting winds felled a number of branches from trees on Sidgwick Avenue. Christ’s and Pembroke both shut to the public on safety grounds, while Wolfson College head gardener Phil Stigwood told students to “take extra care and do not stand or walk under the large trees at Wolfson if a safer path can be taken”.

The gardens of Newnham were closed entirely on the advice of the Domestic Bursar, due to “branches and even some of the benches and bins moving around”. It was recommended that students remain indoors where possible.

Rowing was completely stopped on the River Cam for the first time since February 2014. Citing the wind, CUCBC raised the red flag, prohibiting all crews from rowing on the river, shortly after 10am.

Adverse weather also affected travel routes. Trains between Cambridge and London were brought to a virtual standstill by fallen trees on the Fen Line, with some services being cancelled entirely. A double-decker bus was blown onto its side in Cambridgeshire by the wind, with fifteen people requiring help at the scene, three of whom were later taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Storm Doris has left thousands without power across the UK, and caused major disruptions to roads, flights, and train services. One woman was killed by storm related debris in Wolverhampton, after suffering major head injuries. The wind is expected to subside on Friday as Storm Doris heads towards Eastern Europe