A FORMER Northwich Rotary Club president has flown to Florida after Hurricane Irma caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to his luxury villa.

Philip Wild, who was president of the Rotary Club of Northwich in 2011/2012, flew out to the property on Saturday after watching media coverage of the incoming storm.

The airline captain has owned the home away from home, which is in the luxury Champions Gate resort in Orlando, for 12 years.

Mr Wild and his wife, who stayed at home, visit the villa two to three times a year, often for a month at a time.

He told the Guardian: “When I arrived there was little sign of damage initially, however as I drove here there were lots of trees down and shredded advertising hoardings, the main thing though was the flooding along the sides of the road.

“Arriving on our estate there were large piles of branches along the road and fences down.

“There are lots of bits of shingle missing from roofs as you walk down the street they are everywhere and everyone’s pool enclosures have been shredded.”

The storm was forecast to pass up the East coast of Florida – missing the Champions Gate resort by around 70 miles – but as it developed its track became more westerly.

Subsequently the eye of the storm went directly over Lakeland, around 30 miles away, which saw the resort battered with sustained 65 mph winds and 90 mph gusts.

“The main problem though was the rain with a daily total of around 12 inches,” Mr Wild said.

“As a result we have lost the ceiling in the front bedroom and lots of shingles off the roof and much of the pool screening.

“A number of houses have had water damage.

“I am still waiting for an insurance assessor so have no idea what the repairs will cost though it will be in the thousands of dollars.”

Mr Wild said there is a ‘huge community effort’ to take supplies out to the worst hit areas.

He said the damage to his home could have been much worse.

“Other properties have suffered more damage with fascia boards and soffits torn down,” he said.

“Damage further west is far worse with river levels still rising and severe flooding on top of the wind damage.

“I had a message from a friend in Plant City – almost at the centre of the hurricane – who took two hours to cross town due to the trees and electricity cables on the ground.

“The damage in the Caribbean and the Keys is catastrophic.”

While Storm Irma has now passed, Mr Wilde is now bracing himself for further damage from Hurricane Maria.

The category five hurricane is leaving a trail of destruction across the Caribbean, although it is expected to miss Florida.