Storm Eunice found a rather easy target at the top of the cupola on the tower of Blandford Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul. The weathervane has been leaning for some time, and was part of the reason why there has been no ringing of the church bells since the end of pandemic restrictions and before that the suspension of bellringing during the restoration of the church tower and cupola completed in 2016. The intention was to deal with the problem once the main scaffolding being erected around the church for repairs to the church roof and interior plasterwork in a further Heritage Lottery funded restoration. The high winds brought it down completely and prematurely on Friday morning, and the steeplejacks arrived the following day to make it safe until further repairs could be carried out.

by Nicci Brown