has a branch been snapped lower down to cause this? Can you add a picture of the problem?

Hi, Seaburngirl. There has been no damage to branches. It looks as if the leaves have been burnt. Sorry, I don't know how to send photo - too advanced for me!

Could you have got the leaves wet with the sun on it.
May be worth knocking it out of the pot and having a look at the roots to make sure there are no vine weevil eating the roots.

Could it be cold damage? Is it growing outside?

Peterathome: sun on wet leaves doesn't cause any damage. I believed it for years, like everyone else, but its a theory that's been entirely disproved. When you think about, if water droplets really could magnify the sun to cause burning of leaves, nearly every tree and plant on the planet would be covered in burn marks... The original tests were carried out by students using glass droplets - and the plants did burn, but water has a different refractive index, and does not magnify the effect of the sun, ergo, no burning. I was so sure it was true that burns occurred, after I read the report on it, I actually tested it on my plants on the balcony, in full sun in 34 deg C temperature. And not a one burned...

Likely to be physical damage or cold exposure, assuming its outside, in the ground, and assuming there's no evidence of fungal infection such as mildew.

Two of my hardy Fuchsias ,which I have had for a long time,have had the emerging new foliage killed off,which is probably from the keen frosts we had a couple of weeks ago..I'm sure you will see new growth from the bottom of it,before long,as I hope to do..

You can always learn something new in gardening.

I have grown Fuchas for years your problem is probibly Vine wevail

You're right there Peter - I began to wonder where on earth I'd got the idea that sun/water burnt plants - seems to be something I've 'known' all my life, so it was pretty hard letting it go - which was why I did all the research. Felt a bit like learning father christmas wasn't real, funny how we accept ideas without really questioning them for years...

If its in a pot its easy to tip it out and check for the dreaded weevil. In the ground it more difficult and vine weevil treatment doesn't work in cold weather, unless there's a new one that does - somebody will know. In the meantime i would take several green cuttings from the unaffected part of the bush as an insurance.

Another thought, could the affected part have been exposed to a weedkiller spray, eg have you treated a nearby lawn recently?