天降巨冰， 屋顶受损
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<TD class=headline vAlign=top colSpan=4>Giant ice cube smashes roof</TD></TR>
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<P><IMG src="http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2007/06/11/images/ICE.jpeg" border=1></P>
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<P><FONT class=byline>By Liz Fowler</FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=bodybold>AN ANGUS couple are recovering from shock after a giant ice cube plummeted from the sky at hundreds of miles an hour and smashed into their roof.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>James and Flora Fleming were relaxing in the lounge of their home, The Gables at Barnhead, on the outskirts of Montrose yesterday when the ice meteor hit.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>They dashed outside to find five slates broken on the roof and the ice block lying shattered on their lawn.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>“It was around 1.30pm and we were sitting watching TV when there was a terrific bang like goodness knows what,” Mrs Fleming said.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>“At first I thought it might have been a crow hitting the window, but it was far too loud for that.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>“There was white stuff lying all over the lawn. At first I thought it was bits of paper. I could hardly believe it when my husband said it was ice. Then we looked up at the roof and saw the slates damaged. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>“It was very frightening. The block would have been about one foot square in size before it broke up.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>“It had landed right beside my whirly washing line. I dread to think what might have happened if I had been standing there. I could have been killed.”</FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>Unless some freak climactic phenomenon, the couple believed the ice must have fallen from an aircraft. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>“Where else could it have come from?” Mrs Fleming said. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>“But we have saved a few pieces in the freezer in case anybody wants to have a closer look.” </FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>A spokesman for the Met Office agreed ice cracking off an aircraft was the most likely explanation.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>He said, “There have been instances in the past when things like this have happened. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>“An aircraft flying through cloud will pick up moisture which can then freeze. As it descends it can de-ice and in this instance a block has dropped off.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>“I have heard of this happen maybe 15 or 20 times.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>“An ice meteor, as they are called, can be significantly larger than one square foot. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>“But even at that size if it had hit anybody they wouldn’t be around to tell the tale, I can tell you that.”</FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>Experts reckon a 5kg block falling from a plane at around 1000 feet would plummet to earth at a speed of around 250mph.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT class=body>No one was available for comment from the Civil Aviation Authority.</FONT></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>