A TEAM of builders stepped in to help clear a tree that fell on a minibus in Christchurch this morning.

The crew from Phoenix Improvements Dorset Limited were on their way to a job in Walkford when they came across the scene of the incident in Ringwood Road.

A large tree had fallen onto the front of a minibus between Walkford and Hinton Admiral around 7.30am.

There were long queues and delays while the road was partially blocked.

Bournemouth Echo:

Jamie Dean, along with his colleagues Ben Haensel and Dan Haensel, offered to assist before council staff arrived.

They used tools to trim the tree back before breaking it down using the van's tow hitch.

"We were on our way to a job in Walkford that we have been doing and saw the tree had blocked the road," Mr Dean said.

"We had the tools we needed to help out so parked up and got on with the job.

"It's nothing major, we're more than happy to help out the community where we can."

Bournemouth Echo:

The fallen tree had partially blocked Ringwood Road.

Police officers were controlling traffic in the area.

The minibus, which was a private travel service for disabled children, was not damaged and no injuries were sustained.