WINDS gusting up to 55mph lashed East Lancashire.

A lorry driver had a lucky escape in Ribchester when a 20ft beech tree missed his cab by inches.

But locals with chainsaws were quickly on the scene to help clear the blockage, and the lorry, which was carrying a small crane, was able to lift the remainder of the tree off its own trailer.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.