Helensburgh's £22m leisure centre roof torn apart in extreme Storm Eowyn winds

The roof of a leisure centre in Helensburgh has been torn apart by extremely strong winds as Storm Eowyn battered Scotland.

The £22m waterfront leisure centre and swimming pool, which only opened in 2022, has been seriously damaged.

Videos show debris strewn across the streets around Helensburgh Leisure Centre.

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Helensburgh Leisure Centre has roof stripped off by Storm Eowyn

A number of roads are closed including West Clyde Street, Sinclair Street and Colquhoun Street.

Police Scotland urged people to stay safe and avoid the area.

The structure’s roof appears to be exposed due to the high winds.

Cars could be seen parked at the centre on the town’s pier, with emergency services in attendance.

LiveArgyll closed all facilities amid a “danger to life” alert which was in place on Friday.

A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said: “The roof of Helensburgh Leisure Centre has been damaged, with parts of it either loosened or removed by the ferocity of Storm Eowyn.

“Metal, insulation and other softer materials were blown off and across the centre’s car park and beyond. We have made progress in clearing debris to re-open the wider area for safe use by the public as quickly as possible.

“Next steps now obviously are to identify what immediate and longer term actions are needed, and we have contractors and council staff on site to do that.

“The leisure centre is a popular, well used facility. Live Argyll which runs it will advise over the next week about alternative service provision.”