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Leicester couple pelted by raining yellow plastic balls | Leicester couple pelted by raining yellow plastic balls |
(1 day later) | |
A husband and wife have been left puzzled after hundreds of tiny yellow plastic balls rained in their garden. | A husband and wife have been left puzzled after hundreds of tiny yellow plastic balls rained in their garden. |
Dylis Scott and her husband Tony were in their garage on Monica Road, Leicester, on Sunday when the balls fell from the sky during a storm. | Dylis Scott and her husband Tony were in their garage on Monica Road, Leicester, on Sunday when the balls fell from the sky during a storm. |
Mrs Scott said they started hitting the car and garage door and "shooting at me". | Mrs Scott said they started hitting the car and garage door and "shooting at me". |
The Met Office said it was possible for weather systems to lift things such as dust and deposit them many miles away. | The Met Office said it was possible for weather systems to lift things such as dust and deposit them many miles away. |
In January it was reported that 3cm diameter blue balls came raining down during a hailstorm in Bournemouth, Dorset. | In January it was reported that 3cm diameter blue balls came raining down during a hailstorm in Bournemouth, Dorset. |
Theories on what the balls could have been included crystals used in floral displays or ammunition for a toy gun. | Theories on what the balls could have been included crystals used in floral displays or ammunition for a toy gun. |
'Heck, what's happening?' | 'Heck, what's happening?' |
On Sunday Mrs Scott said she had gone inside after she heard thunder while she was painting outside. | On Sunday Mrs Scott said she had gone inside after she heard thunder while she was painting outside. |
"Suddenly all these little tiny, bright yellow balls came down with the rain, and they were hitting the car, hitting the garage door, and shooting at me," the 70-year-old said. | "Suddenly all these little tiny, bright yellow balls came down with the rain, and they were hitting the car, hitting the garage door, and shooting at me," the 70-year-old said. |
"I looked outside and all over the lawn were all these yellow balls. And it was absolutely pelting down. | "I looked outside and all over the lawn were all these yellow balls. And it was absolutely pelting down. |
"I thought 'Heck, what's happening?' I'm only doing painting and they are sending all these yellow balls down." | "I thought 'Heck, what's happening?' I'm only doing painting and they are sending all these yellow balls down." |
Mrs Scott also saw some of the balls deposited down the road. | Mrs Scott also saw some of the balls deposited down the road. |
Most of the balls have now disappeared and Mr Scott thinks they were washed away by the rain. | Most of the balls have now disappeared and Mr Scott thinks they were washed away by the rain. |
'What are they?' | |
Dr Lisa Jardine-Wright, a physicist at the Cavendish Laboratory, based at the University of Cambridge, said particles of matter can be picked up by the wind and transported in the rain. | Dr Lisa Jardine-Wright, a physicist at the Cavendish Laboratory, based at the University of Cambridge, said particles of matter can be picked up by the wind and transported in the rain. |
"Because these [yellow balls] are very light it wouldn't need to be very strong and it could potentially transport them a reasonable distance," she said. | "Because these [yellow balls] are very light it wouldn't need to be very strong and it could potentially transport them a reasonable distance," she said. |
"The bigger question is what are they, and where has it grabbed it from?" | "The bigger question is what are they, and where has it grabbed it from?" |
A Met Office spokesperson said: "Although we can't say whether this occurrence was weather related, it is possible for weather systems to lift things such as dust and deposit them many miles away. | A Met Office spokesperson said: "Although we can't say whether this occurrence was weather related, it is possible for weather systems to lift things such as dust and deposit them many miles away. |
"We saw a good example of this back in May when dust from the Sahara was deposited on cars in the UK. | "We saw a good example of this back in May when dust from the Sahara was deposited on cars in the UK. |
"Obviously the heavier the item is the harder it is to lift it, but air movements (updrafts) around thunderstorms can be strong enough to raise small items and move them." | "Obviously the heavier the item is the harder it is to lift it, but air movements (updrafts) around thunderstorms can be strong enough to raise small items and move them." |
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