Gales send tree tumbling A TREE weighing over a tonne smashed into a family's shed and greenhouse na (From Warrington Guardian)

Gales send tree tumbling A TREE weighing over a tonne smashed into a family's shed and greenhouse na

Malcolm Taylor, 61, of Mather Avenue, Weston Point, Runcorn woke up to find the giant willow had landed a few feet from his house.

"I only got up to let the cat out and found I had a huge tree in my garden. I don't know who was more surprised, me or the cat!" he said.

"I shouted my wife, Margaret, and daughter, Sharon, to have a look and they thought it must have been snow that had fallen not a tree."

"The full extent of the damage won't be revealed until it's chopped up and lifted off."

The 40-footer came down in 70mph gale force winds in the early hours of Sunday morning and landscapers had to be called.

The family, who have lived in Mather Avenue for 18 years, say the tree doesn't belong to them.

Upbeat

Despite their near miss the Taylors have remained upbeat but say it was an accident waiting to happen.

"We have been saying for years that those big trees were going to topple but no-one listened," Mr Taylor said.

"I've even measured the distance between my house and the trunk before to see what it could hit.

"Luckily it has fallen short of the house although I wish I could say the same about my greenhouse and shed."