I think the news of this one spread around Ross, possibly even before I heard about it myself, as I was not home at the time. During the high winds, which produced some 80 mph gusts on Thursday, 18th January, part of the 50/60 foot tall fir tree in our garden collapsed and landed on the car belonging to our neighbour.

Although the tree is in our garden, it was already a monster when Tina first moved into the house. The tree was made 'safe' on the day and was felled completely on Monday.

Although I have sent a photo to the local printed press, I have asked them not to publish my name with it as Tina and I seem to be becoming infamous lately, what with the brick through the window sat nav theft and other recent Wyenot News stuff on the radio etc., I don't want people pulling out a crucifix and backing off when they meet me in the supermarket.

In a way I shall miss the tree very much. The bird song, which lasted all day long was beautiful and it was even home to a parrot for a few days back in 1998. I shall not miss one other aspect of the tree though - that which was becoming a bit of a trademark on the Wyenot News car!

The high winds caused a lot of damage to trees and property around the county on that day, including downing a tree on the Prospect and the roof of Woolworths in Hereford.

It is possible that the whole of Wyenot.com will be down between the hours of 11:00 pm on Wednesday, 24th January and 6:00 am on Thursday, 25th January and, knowing the way things work out, possibly intermittent service either side of these times as well. This is due to essential maintenance work on the web server.

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible, so if you try to find the web site and end up with the 404 error, don't worry, I have not shut it all down!

Email service will also be affected by this work, so if you email me something important and I do not respond, please try again on Friday.

Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Alan

As a free additional benefit to those local businesses supporting Wyenot.com, every week Wyenot News chooses one local business at random to feature in the current issue of the weekly on-line news magazine.

Norton House is a beautiful and historic building, dating back to the early 1500s where proprietors, Su and Richard Jackson make every effort to ensure that their guests are not only comfortable but that all of their requirements are met.

Each of the three double bedrooms, the 'Ross Room', 'Doward Room' and 'Monmouth Room,' has its own bathroom. As well as television and tea and coffee making facilities, many extras are in place for your comfort. The beautiful lounge is an ideal place for guests to relax during the evening and is made extra homely during the winter by a roaring log fire...

For further information, click here to go to the Norton House page on Wyenot.com.

If you have a local news item or story of local interest which you would like to appear on Wyenot News you are very welcome to submit it by email, telephone or by post.

Please advise as early as possible if you would like me to photograph your local event so that I can put it in my diary. This service is offered strictly on a first come, first served basis.

Many Wyenot News photographs appear in various local newspapers and magazines. This does not imply that Wyenot News or any other part of this web site belongs to those publications. Wyenot News is a totally independent news magazine.

Contacting Wyenot News:

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Telephone: 01989 763217 - Mobile: 0779 683 4077

Postal address: Wyenot News, 1, Hillview Road, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. HR9 7EY

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Prints are only available for photographs taken by Wyenot News (Not of those which have been sent in by readers).

Prints of 'people' photographs are only available to those directly involved in the news event covered. i.e. I do not sell prints of people to the general public.