HIGH winds last night blew over Chillenden windmill in east Kent which was built in 1868 (Sue Briggs writes).

Villagers raised the alarm early this morning and the county council is sending experts to take a look at the damage.

The distinctive white landmark had just been restored and stood in a prominent position outside the village, between Canterbury and Deal.

A spokesman at County Hall confirmed that the main post holding the mill structure had snapped, the cap had broken and exposed the mechanism.

"It apparently is a very sad sight," he added.