A COUPLE had a lucky escape when strong winds from Storm Imogen brought down an oak tree just a few feet from their home.

Sue and Robert Edwards, of Doveshill Gardens, Bournemouth, were doing the washing up when they heard the “whoosh” of the tree falling at around 2pm on Monday.

“It is frightening to imagine what might have happened,” said Mrs Edwards, 70.

“We heard a terrific whoosh and it was obvious something had been brought down by the wind. I thought something had happened to the roof.

“In the lounge we saw this massive branch in the lawn, but when we looked through the side window we saw the whole tree had come down.”

Mrs Edwards and her husband, 72, were relieved to find the tree completely missed their home, although one branch had “smashed” the garage roof.

“I keep a freezer in there and am often going in and out,” she said.

“If we had been in there when it came down we could have been seriously hurt. We are thankful to God for sparing us.”

The tree was one of several old oaks at the bottom of a neighbour’s garden, which are subject to tree protection orders.

Mrs Edwards said their neighbour was planning to check the rest of the trees.

“We have lived here for 32 years and I never thought one of these old oak trees would come down, they look very sturdy and deep rooted,” said Mrs Edwards.

“Of course it wasn’t uprooted it split near the bottom.”

The storm, which hit on Monday morning after two days of strong winds, saw 60mph gales hit the coast as well as heavy rain.