Millport’s DA hall is out of commission for the busy September weekend as a tree crashes in to the building only hours after a fundraising event to save the town hall.

It is believed that high winds uprooted the tree causing it to fall in to the side of building, damaging an internal beam in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Organisers of the September weekend are ensuring people that the events will still be going ahead, and they will not be postponing any of the activities

However damage to the side of the building, means that no events will be held in the hall and alternative arrangements have had to be made.

CEO of Cumbrae Community Development, Michael Bertram said: “Unfortunately, the report North Ayrshire Council received back from their Property Maintenance section indicates the hall will be out of use for our events taking place at the weekend.

“At this stage we don't have an indication of timescale for the hall to be reinstated to safe use.

“Further investigation is required before repairs are commissioned, meantime alternative venues have been considered, as NAC have suggested contingency arrangements being made for the next couple of weeks.

“The DA Hall has bookings this weekend for Saturday afternoon and a Ceilidh in the evening of September 22 plus the Millport’s Got Talent Event followed by the September Weekend Prize Giving on Sunday, will now be transferred to the Garrison House marquee."

As the winds are set to continue, extra cables have been added to the marquee and high sided vehicles and trailers are to be placed alongside the marquee to serve as a wind break.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “The tree has been removed and we are still assessing the damage to the building.

“We will keep the groups that use the building informed of any progress.”

The fire service was alerted to the fallen tree where they attended the scene to ensure that the area was safe.

A spokesman for The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were alerted at 8.03am on Sunday, September 16 to reports of a tree which had collapsed onto a building on the Isle of Cumbrae.

“Operations Control mobilised one fire engine to the island’s Clifton Street, where firefighters helped ensure the area was made safe and crews thereafter left the scene.”

Friends of Millport Town Hall had been hosting an event only hours before on the Saturday night, to raise funds for the town hall building.

Group chair, Angie McCallum said: “Luckily this happened after we left, or it could have been horrific, we can only hope it is mended soon.

“We had 100 people in the hall, so it could easily have been a lot worse.”