Wind brings down garage fascia

Ten years of exposure to the elements on the windy London Road-Ninfield Road corner sent the distinctive silver and red fascia crashing to the ground.

Hurrying to erect a hastily-written "Business as usual" sign, sales manager Ray Barry said: "There was the usual terrific wind blowing.

"The signage started to come away at one end.

"Once the wind got behind it, there was a sort of domino-effect.

"It came away progressively right the way around the showroom. I suppose it's a combination of 10 years of wind and rain really we found the date it was erected written on the back of one section 16.9.92.

"Luckily, it missed most of the cars on the forecourt. There was just minor damage to four demonstrators."

p Pictured left, SLM boss Ian Wakeford helps Ray Barry put the all-important message across to customers after Monday's fascia collapse.

Picture: Justin Lycett H24546a