A MYSTERY cloud of pink dust has been descending on Portishead. Concerned resident Geraldine Box, who lives at Tydeman Road on The Vale, says she keeps discovering layers of the dust on her windowsills and carpets. More recently she discovered a bright pi

A MYSTERY cloud of pink dust has been descending on Portishead.Concerned resident Geraldine Box, who lives at Tydeman Road on The Vale, says she keeps discovering layers of the dust on her windowsills and carpets.More recently she discovered a bright pink cobweb in the corner of her sitting room.Now Mrs Box, who is chairman of the town's local action team, wants to know if any other residents have discovered the pink dust in their homes.Mrs Box said: "I have found this pink dust in my bathroom, in the lounge and on the windowsill."I have a blue carpet and I can often see a covering of it on there."What I want to know is if anyone else has encountered the same problems with this pink powder appearing all over their homes."Mrs Box said years ago she knew of a woman who lived in Stoke Bishop who said she suffered from the same problem.She said the dust only appeared when the wind blew over the town from Avonmouth.Mrs Box added: "It was suggested to me that I get a file and put some of this dust in it and send it off for testing."I would like to know what it contain and whether it is harmful, especially if it is blowing over from Avonmouth."There are so many chemical firms over there, it could be a real concoction of different, potentially-harmful, ingredients."One theory is that the dust is coming from the Sahara Desert. Often the dust is whipped up in a sandstorm and then brought over on various weather systems.A spokesman for the MET Office said: "Dust from the Sahara comes over more often than people think."It is lifted up in a storm and then travels on a weather system."When it rains, it is in the drops and when these evaporate, it often leaves behind a red-coloured residue."North Somerset Council said it was not aware of any problems with coloured dust particles appearing in properties across The Vale.North Somerset Council spokesman Steve Makin said: "We have not had any reports of pink dust in the Portishead area or a pollutant in the air."It is possible it is something to do with weather conditions."l Have you been affected by the pink dust? Is it appearing in your home? Let us know. Write to us at Portishead Times, 32 Waterloo Street, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, BS23 1LW. You can also e-mail us at nstimes@archant.co.uk or fax your letters to 01934 422600.