August 17, 1979

EVERY area corporation forestry worker has been drafted in to repair hundreds of trees damaged in freak storms.

The trees were ravaged in 70mph gusts which snapped the tips of mature poplar trees.

Saplings were broken in half and uprooted and trees were ripped from their support sticks and flattened.

"It was incredible," said corporation assistant estates maintenance officer Mr Peter Elliot.

"Mature trees had their top 20 feet just broken straight off, snapping like matchsticks.

"Even trees in the estates, which we would have thought would have been sheltered, were damaged very badly."

Corporation workers are trying to save the mature trees and are touring all the estates inspecting every tree.

"The worst affected part seems to be the Washford area," said Mr Elliot.

"It is impossible to put a cost on the damage but it is going to be expensive.

"Some of the trees can be saved by pruning but others will have to be replaced."