Residents trapped in homes by tumbleweed

Residents of Cheyenne, Wyoming have been trapped in their homes by mounds of tumbleweeds which blew down from the high plains and blocking residents' doors and prompting a city cleanup project.

Neighbours in Hawthorne Drive woke up Thursday morning to find the dried brush piled up against their windows and doors by the northwest winds.



Tumbleweeds blow into town every autumn, but a city official says this week's dump is noticeable because the winds of Wednesday and Thursday were the first extreme weather after a relatively calm fall season.

Tumbleweed, also known as Saltwort, Russian thistle or Salsola is native to Europe, Asia and Africa but is believed to have been brought to the US in a consignment of flax.