An historic Bucks windmill had its sails ripped off, power lines came crashing down and fallen trees blocked dozens of roads across the county yesterday as Storm Ciara wreaked havoc.

The Chilterns saw 50mph winds and torrential rain on Sunday as the Met Office put an amber warning in place – fearing there could be a “risk to life”.

Cobstone Windmill, which overlooks the village of Turville and has been used as a filming location for the likes of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Midsomer Murders and Goodnight Mister Tom, had two of its sails blown off by the wind.

The windmill, which was reportedly built around 1816, is now a private home – but worried Bucks residents have suggested launching an online fundraiser to pay to have the sails replaced on the iconic structure.

The Empire Cinema in Cressex had to shut its doors to moviegoers after parts of the sign at the front of the building crashed to the ground.

And Danesfield School in Marlow had to stay shut today (Monday) after a large tree fell in the grounds.

The school said: “There is evidence of damage to other trees on the premises. At this point we cannot make an assessment of any structural weaknesses that may have been caused to trees still standing including those in the car park.”

Elsewhere and it was a busy day for the emergency services. Firefighters from High Wycombe had to make electric lighting safe after a ceiling came away from its supports in Amersham Hill at around 8.20am on Sunday morning.

And at 8.34am, crews from Gerrards Cross dashed to Coronation Avenue in George Green after a fallen tree brought down overhead BT cables.

Amersham fire crews had to cut free a tarpaulin which had come loose and wrapped around roof timbers in Parkfield Avenue, just after 9am.

And in Straight Bit, Flackwell Heath, a shop sign came loose, so firefighters from Beaconsfield had to remove it at around 10.40am.

Hundreds of fallen trees around the county also caused chaos for those who braved the roads – with some closures including the A355 between Amersham and Beaconsfield, which saw several trees crash down in the road, Penn Road in Beaconsfield and the A413 between Chalfont St Giles and Chalfont St Peter and between Wendover and Great Missenden.

In Chartridge Lane in Chesham, a fallen tree trunk pierced the top of a vehicle – but fortunately there was no one in it at the time and no one was injured.

A tree also knocked down the power lines in Hyde End, with police warning drivers to avoid the area.

And Storm Ciara managed to take down several fences in the Garratts Way, High Wycombe, area – with worried residents contacting Transport for Bucks because of “dangerous” exposed drops.