Local News

Hail St. Mary

Ottery St. Mary has taken a bit of a battering in last nights sudden hail storm, leaving some places with 6 foot tall banks of hail and sludge, along with major flooding.

Even such civilised places as Exeter were affected as the A30, past Junction 29 on the M5, was closed due to landslides, flooding and other unsafe driving conditions.

About a foot of hail fell in just two hours, between 1am and 3am, without any warning from boys at the MET (office) leaving many people stranded and unable to go about their daily business.

The MET office described the storm as a "hugely localised freak event" leaving most of the region untouched.

One possible cause comes from reader Billy Banana:

"Looks like the Health & Safety Executive (working in league with the sky gods or possibly the met office) have been angered by the Ottery Festival. Having tried all manner of coercive means (insurance claims, red tape etc) to get the event stopped they upped the ante. This most recent attempt, whilst dramatic could have done the trick. If only they'd got the day right?!"

If only. That bonfire would have looked awesome sat in the middle of a lake as it burned.

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