Tree down after residents' alert

Neighbour Andrew Brewster captured the fall

A tree has fallen on a property in a Berkshire town after warnings from residents to the council that it was "an accident waiting to happen".

GP Andrew Brewster said he, and neighbours, had asked the council to fell trees along the tree-lined Ridge Hall Close, in Caversham.

The council said the trees could not be removed due to a preservation order.

Some trees had been uprooted before, and on Thursday Pat Bolton was phoning the council when one hit her garage.

Mrs Bolton told BBC News: "I could just burst into tears because its truly devastating to have your life wrecked by people who don't give a damn about your circumstances and what it means to you - I'm sorry but I feel sick.

"I've done the shouting and the screaming and I feel sick and I'm tearful because this is my home."

Tree dossier

Her neighbour, Mr Brewster, said: "The council wanted to keep the trees, as you can see the tree line from the River Thames.

"The trees tower above the bungalows, and are shallow rooted - another neighbour had a tree come down already and is now petrified to go back to the house."

The GP had compiled a dossier on trees being uprooted in winds, including neighbouring homes being hit previously.

Mrs Bolton said she was on the phone to the council at the time

He said he had given this to the council in an attempt to get them to remove the trees.

A spokesman for Reading Borough Council said: "An application was made to the council to fell six pine trees in Ridge Hall Close, Caversham, in February last year.

"The council gave the matter full consideration, even seeking a second opinion from an independent tree consultant, after which it was agreed that three of the trees could be felled.

"Unfortunately, one of the remaining pine trees fell in yesterday's high winds. "

The spokesman added that a tree contractor had since inspected the reaming two trees, and due to damage sustained this week they would now be felled.