A CHILDREN’S play area at a Brierley Hill pub became a casualty of Storm Ali as the UK’s first named storm of the season swept through the Midlands.
A large conker tree crashed to the ground at The Birch Tree Inn – destroying the play area in the process.
The towering horse-chestnut tree plunged to the floor at around 8.30am this morning (Wednesday September 19) as winds battered the region.
Barmaid Chloe Hipkiss said: “I don’t know how it hasn’t killed someone.”
She said children have been collecting conkers from beneath the tree most mornings and she added: “It’s lucky there wasn’t anyone there today.”
The pub was set to open as usual but the play area, which featured a slide, swings and monkey bars, will be out of action as a result of the damage.
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