What did you set as your OpenWrt router's LAN address? Did you set 172.16.0.0? it appears that this is the case based on the router address (172.16.0.0), but if you're using a /24 subnet (subnet mask 255.255.255.0), the .0 address is not a valid host IP (it defines the network, but is not valid as host address).
If this is the case, you will need to use failsafe mode, fix the address so that it is valid (for example 172.16.0.1), and then reboot.
@psherman thanks for your response. you're spot on. the only problem is that I can't seem to get the router into Safe mode and thus no IP, etc. I get the flashing red light (common to this router).
@psherman thanks a lot. I have had to redo this so many times now, I can do it with my eyes close. Why? Well, configurations that are going wrong, wrong and wrong. Soon, I toss the router against the wall Thanks a lot.