Valentines Park has finally reopened, almost three weeks after being closed by storm St Jude.

As we reported last week, unhappy residents and a Valentines ward councillor reacted angrily to it staying closed long after the October 28 storm.

Many parks and public areas in Redbridge were shut so that uprooted trees could be cleared and others made safe.

But all had reopened, except for the park off Cranbrook Road, Ilford, the largest one in the borough.

On Saturday morning, 19 days after the storm, the park gates were finally opened.

Speaking last week, a Redbridge Council spokesman said more than 165 trees had been assessed as dangerous and “require action to make them safe before the park can re-open”.

• Is the council right to keep the park closed? email letters@ilfordrecorder.co.uk.