A piece of cricketing history has been lost forever after an ancient lime tree at Kent's county ground was blown over during a gale.
The 90ft tree was in place when first class cricket was first played on the Canterbury ground in 1847. It was a famous fixture just inside the boundary, but now only a seven-foot stump remains.
Any ball hitting the tree was an automatic four. A six was only awarded if the ball totally avoided touching the tree on its way over the rope. Any catch taken after the ball had hit the tree was ruled not out.
Club curator David Robertson said: "The tree predated the time when the laws of cricket were finalised.
"When they came to draw up the rule book it was decided the Kent lime tree should stay."
The club have already planted another lime tree near the site of the old one to try to keep the tradition alive. There are also plans to make miniature cricket bats and stumps from the old tree to sell as souvenirs (perhaps some wind-breaks would be good as well)