Shrubs/Hedges in Somerset

[gardenmad]

Whilst driving through Somerset one very early Spring (I was going from the A303 to the M5) I went through a village with hedges round the fields, (not the houses) consisting of pink flowered bushes - they may have been a prunus - they did not have any leaves, possibly because they flower first then have leaves, like magnolias, not that they WERE magnolias, does anyone know what they are? I wish I had stopped and inspected them closely, but in a hurry to get home. It is driving me mad to find out. I shall also put this question in the gardening section. Thank in advance.

[Thunderbird+]

The first thing that sprang to my mind was Chaenomeles or Japanese quince or cydonia.
It may have escaped from cultivation (naturalised) or planted purposly by a farmer for the fruits which where once commonly used.