Photina...I have just noticed that my red robin has been snapped just above the main stem

Hi Lincslass, I'm sorry I don't understand, do you mean that a branch has been snapped off, near to its junction with the main stem ?, or the main stem itself has been snapped off near the top ?.
If it's the former, then you could prune it to balance things out a bit, but if it's the latter, then that leader won't get any taller, but it will produce side shoots, and 1 of those may take over as the lead shoot, and grow straight up, but it will leave a sort of kink ln the trunk, this of course will take time, so you will have to have patience, if you don't get a new leader, you will have to be content with the height of tree you have now, and perhaps just have to grow it as a shrub, Derek.

They are tough Lincs and I agree with Dereks advice, had you got it staked?

Hi Derek, thankyou for replying, I didn't explain very well did I, the main stem which is staked is ok, there were two branches with lots of smaller ones leading from them, one has been torn and broken leaving about an inch up from where it joined the main trunk I wasn't sure whether I needed to dust the broken piece to ward off any infection or leave it to nature..

Thanks Pam, it didn't seem to be that heavy a snowfall compared to other years but my Buddhlia is also in half, now I know that one will fight back with a vengeance...

Hi, I would just clean up the break with a sharp knife, and leave it alone, if there's an inch of the branch remaining, there should be some dormant growth buds, which should start to sprout in spring, you can prune the other side, to give the broken side a chance to catch up, but it will take a while, and will need some judicious pruning, but it will eventually look fine again, Derek.

Thankyou Derek, much appreciated.

I know what you mean about the snowfall Lincs, it wasn't really windy was it...
some very big flakes at one point though

I still agree with Dereks advice to tidy it up and prune to balance it up, these days it seems we let nature take its course and not dust or paint the damage, I can imagine lots of conflicting advice on Goy if you asked?

Could you prune it to a bonsai semi-cascade shape, ie deliberately lopsided and windswept?