Near miss for couple as fallen tree takes out gutter and blocks back door
A couple living on a farm had a lucky escape after high winds caused a tree to collapse near their home.
David and June Northcote were settling in to watch television at their home on Hawkbatch Farm in Bewdley on Sunday night when they heard an almighty bang at around 7pm.
Mr Northcote explained: "The weather outside was absolutely dreadful as it was snowing, sleeting, raining and blowing a gale all at the same time.
"We suddenly heard several very loud bangs outside the back of the house and looked out to see branches pointing sideways and we were not able to open the back door.
"The tree was in our garden as we have about three quarters of an acre of land here and it was very frightening when it hit the side of the house."
Mr Northcote said the weather was the worst he'd heard in four years of living there - with locals also having to cope with flooding as well as high winds.
The tree took down some of the guttering on the house, as well as a few sockets, but had caused relatively little damage, and he and a few members of the community were able to clear the tree the next day.
He said: "The damage is repairable and after a neighbour and his son brought over a chainsaw, we were able to chop it up and clear it away from the house, with the man next door bringing his trailer to remove the pieces.
"Where we are is at the top of a hill, so we are very exposed to the weather and I think we are lucky that this tree fell where it did, but we also have a large oak tree leaning against the house which needs to be looked at.
"The area below us has been hit as well by flooding on the land, but we have been very fortunate not to have more damage here."
