It sounds like staying indoors this weekend might be a good option after the Met Office issued a gale warning.

Gusts of up to 55mph are expected across this region with the risk of more than 70mph on coasts and hills.

Cheshire West and Chester is included in the warning, valid from 5pm on Friday (December 4) until 6am on Sunday, which also talks of ‘heavy rain’.

This follows strong winds affecting West Cheshire last Sunday that brought down a metal structure at The Forum shopping centre and trees in Ellesmere Port, Handbridge and one at the anti-fracking camp in Upton while runner Simon Taylor was taken to hospital after being struck by a fallen branch in Christleton.

Simon Taylor of Huntington, Chester, was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital after being hit on the head by a falling tree branch last Sunday

The latest warning states: “Southwesterly gales are expected to affect much of northern England and parts of Wales later Friday and into Saturday with the risk of storm force winds over coasts and hills.

“Please be aware of difficult driving conditions with the risk of travel disruption on roads and to ferries.

“Winds may be strong enough to damage or bring down trees. A period of heavy rain will also affect much of north west England and north west Wales.”

A metal roof collapsed on the steps leading from the Market car park up to The Forum shopping centre following last Sunday's winds

Forecasters say a depression is expected to deepen and move towards Iceland during Friday causing the associated frontal zone expected to affect the UK throughout Friday and Saturday.

The warning adds: “Southwesterly winds will gust 45-55 mph quite widely across the area, with the risk of more than 70 mph on coasts and hills. Whilst they will decrease for a time on Saturday, they will increase again later on Saturday, coming down from the west on Sunday.”