Strong winds last week brought down an towering tree in Hayes End, crushing one homeowner's shed.

Andy Allison awoke on Saturday morning to find an 80-foot tree, which for years had stood in fields behind his home in Blackpool Gardens, Hayes, lying in his back garden.

Howling winds the previous night caused disruption across the borough.

The toppled tree crushed Mr Allison's outhouse, and the 66-year-old is now pursuing an insurance claim.

He said that he was thankful no-one was around when it fell.

"I complained about the tree to the council seven years ago, and nothing was done.

A tree next to Andy Allison's garden in Hayes fell after strong winds. It landed on his shed, and a horse paddock next door.

"I was afraid it would come down on my garage while I was working in there. There is a horse paddock next door, and kids ride the horses, and I thought it was an accident waiting to happen.

"Someone from the council came to look at it, and told me it was in good shape and it just needed pruning. It has always leaned over, and there was always a risk it would fall onto property.

"I am glad it is down now, but something should have been done sooner, because someone could have been hurt."