The car park with the white turbine on the roof.

A blade from a wind turbine on the roof of the new Lister Hospital car park flew off in high winds last night (Monday) hitting a car.

The six-foot blade, part of a turbine that only became fully operational last week, hit a staff member’s car, damaging its roof.

The accident is an embarrassment to the East and North Herts NHS Trust which opened the £7.9m car park on Friday with much fanfare, lauding its green credentials.

Two remaining blades have been removed from the Swiss-made machine as a precaution.

When working it generates 10 per cent of the car park’s electricity, part of a range of eco-friendly initiatives in the five-storey building.

A spokesman for VINCI Park, which built and manages the building, said the turbine has been decommissioned while an investigation is undertaken by the manufacturer, while parking for patients, visitors and staff will be unaffected. He added the company is coordinating the repair of the damaged vehicle with its insurers and the owner.

Nick Carver, chief executive of the NHS trust said: “VINCI Park and its suppliers are investigating the incident and the turbine will only be operational when the technical issue is resolved and tested to everyone’s satisfaction.”