Destroyed chair story continues to draw comments (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Destroyed chair story continues to draw comments

2:16pm Thursday 8th February 2007 in

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MYSTERY surrounding an office chair that was set alight in a Kendal park has been solved after dozens of readers inundated The Westmorland Gazette website wanting to find out more.

The story developed into a web of intrigue after the breaking news was uploaded to the Gazette's website on a quiet Friday afternoon in Kendal.

During routine afternoon calls the fire and rescue service told the Gazette that they had been called out to reports of an office chair that had been set on fire in open parkland off Maude Street in the town.

Through the Add Comment' icon attached to the story on www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk more than 40 people have posted their thoughts. Comments included a poem, a joke and tales of sleepless nights after reading the news.

Contact us if you know who owns chair!

Details in story...

Reporters and the editor joined in the debate and strong interest led the Gazette to try to find out what happened to the talked-about chair after it was the most-read story on the web for well over a week.

After scouring the land, off Maude Street, the Gazette stumbled upon what looked like scorch marks on the grass and possibly some remains of the incinerated chair.

After our find a spokesman for Cumbria Police said the chair had been cleared away but they had not found out who was responsible.

Editor/Publisher Mike Glover said the ability to comment on stories was one of the benefits of the website and urged people to post their thoughts on stories of interest and share their views.

"This story was the most-read for a number of days and became the talk of the newsroom," he said.

"It just goes to show how much interest can be generated by local news and I would like to make people aware they can comment on any of our stories on the web by clicking the Add Comment' icon."

To view the original chair story click on the link below.

If anyone knows who owned the chair and how it came to be in the park email andrew.daniels@kendal.newsquest.co.uk or contact the newsroom on 01539-710190.