Collapsed wall ruins fundraiser plans

An award-winning garden in the Midlands was left in tatters after high winds blew over a stretch of wall.

Prized potted plants and borders were destroyed at the terraced house of Bob Parker and Greg Kowalczuk in Wolverhampton.

High winds and heavy rain caused a 10ft stretch of the Victorian wall to topple over, landing on the flower beds, at the house in Broad Lane, Bradmore.

The pair, who regularly open up the plot named the Magic Garden to visitors for charity, were left heartbroken after waking up to the rubble.

"It was really quite horrific at the time – it was totally unexpected. We were very upset," said former art teacher Mr Parker, aged 72.

"We got up on Sunday morning, and the wind was blustering everywhere.

"We suddenly heard a strange sound from the garden, and when we looked, we saw a 10ft-wide and 6ft-high section of the old wall had fallen flat on the garden."

An open event on May 16 has had to be cancelled but Mr Parker said they were installing a board fence and hoped to be back up and running before an opening for the British Heart Foundation on May 26.

Some replacement plants have been donated by Lealans Garden Centre in Bridgnorth Road, Wolverhampton, and Mr Parker is hoping that other centres will contribute.

It comes as forecasters warn that rain and wind is set to return to the region this weekend.