A COUPLE from Harvington returned from holiday and discovered a tree had crashed through the roof of their home.

It landed in Malcolm and Marilyn Baugh's back bedroom while they were on holiday. They had to cut short their trip when the accident happened last Thursday.

The 110ft redwood, a protected tree, belongs to neighbour Philip Morris, who was out when 30ft of the tree snapped off and fell next door.

He said: "It's unfortunate, you'd have thought it would have landed onto the road. The neighbours were on holiday but sadly had to break it off and come back to see their wrecked house."

Tree surgeon Roger Small said the same tree was struck by lightning a few months ago but added that the lightning had not weakened it in any way. He said: "It's one of those things. It's a freak wind that caused it."

One fire engine from Evesham attended the incident at Grange Lane at 3.10pm. Firefighters spent an hour the detached property making it safe.

Sub-officer Mel Turbutt said: "The neighbours alerted us to the incident. Luckily the owners had left a key with one of the neighbours so we were able to let ourselves in. We made the building safe and used plastic sheets to cover the furniture in the room."

Mr and Mrs Baugh declined to comment to the Journal.