Falling trees caused damage to a number of tombstones at two historic United Synagogue cemeteries as Storm Eunice lashed the UK on Friday.

The damaged graves were at the charity’s Willesden and Lauriston Road, Hackney, cemeteries. Repairs are underway and, where there is a next of kin, families are being informed.

“The United Synagogue takes very seriously its mandate to maintain the resting places of tens of thousands of members of the community,” said its property director, Lali Virdee.

Land for the Lauriston Road cemetery was purchased in 1786 by the Hambro Synagogue, which went on to become one of the US’s founding members in 1870. The last burial was in 1886.

Willesden Cemetery was founded in 1873 and is now the site of the House of Life project, welcoming visitors interested in learning about Jewish funeral traditions.

No US synagogues reported damage as a result of the storm and shul services and programmes ran as planned over the weekend.