BRISTOL is recovering after being battered by some of the strongest winds of the winter.

Over the last few days ferocious gusts of up to 60mph knocked down trees and power lines in the city.

But despite the appalling weather emergency crews have been called to relatively few incidents, and no injuries have been reported.

Yesterday fire crews dealt with a fallen tree that was blocking Church Road in Hartcliffe; were called to Kingsdown to secure scaffolding planks that had blown loose, and to Keynsham to make a chimney safe.

Two friends who have been camping out on Denny Island in the Bristol Channel have been battling the elements. Oliver Dixie and Rob Sheppard, pictured, from Pill, went to the small island on Monday to camp for five days to raise money for a campaign to save the village's only swimming pool, at Crockerne Primary School, and Children's Hospice South West.

Over the last few days the pair, who are camping under an upturned fibreglass dinghy, have been battered by driving rains and high winds.

Oliver's wife Michelle, 38, said: "They knew it was going to be windy and wet but they have had a really tough week. They have taken a real battering from the weather."

The men have some good news ahead – winds were expected to die down today, with cloud and bright spells forecast over the weekend.