Archant communications manager Keith Morris has told how a dream family holiday to Florida almost turned into a nightmare when a category 4 hurricane hit the area.

Keith, a former feature writer and sub-editor for the Eastern Daily Press, was left filing reports for the group's titles instead of sightseeing in the sunshine state when Hurricane Charley came to town.

Together with his wife and two children he had spent a week visiting attractions such as Disney World and Universal Studios, enjoying rides such as Earthquake and Twister, but as the weather took hold these were replaced by very real 145mph winds and spin-off tornadoes.

Safely back home, Keith, who also edits Archant's Network magazine, said: "The eye of the hurricane was due to pass us by but on Friday morning it changed track to hit the coast at Punta Gorda and head overland straight for us in Polk County south of Orlando.

"We were told to watch out for tornadoes ahead of the hurricane and to fill the baths with water and gather together candles, matches and tinned food.

"We were told that the main danger was from smashing windows. By 7.30pm horizontal rain was lashing our sturdy house.

"As the eye of the hurricane passed just eight miles from our home, nearby palm trees bent over at right angles, bins flew around and the back garden fence collapsed."

By 10pm the hurricane force winds had subsided, with Keith and his family emerging unscathed, but news reports showed pictures of devastation from many nearby areas and Polk County, along with many others was declared a disaster area.

Keith said: "As we drove into Orlando the following day we saw neon signs, streets lights and walls blown over, traffic lights and power lines out and hundreds of trees toppled and littering the roads."

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