Chaos on Shropshire roads as strong winds bring down trees

A large tree blocked the main route through the village of Waters Upton, near Telford, but fortunately missed buildings and left no major damage.

Janet Evans, who was taking part in a yoga class at the village hall at the time, said she witnessed the dramatic crash of the tree.

She said: "We heard this huge crash. It was very windy anyway and there was a lot of wind and rain noise so the crash just added to the noise.

"It could have been an oak, and it was about 18ins to 2ft in circumference. It was a big old tree."

Mrs Evans, who lives in Shawbirch, Telford, added: "We came out and the road was blocked.

"There was no other damage I could see – it came down across the road. If it had come down the other way there were buildings in the way."

A flash storm also blew up in Shrewsbury yesterday – felling trees and snapping branches.

Fierce winds and driving rain made conditions tricky for motorists yesterday morning.

Ray Harrison, a horse trainer from Sansaw, was travelling on the road between Hadnall and Bomere Heath when a he came across a huge oak tree which was blocking the road.

"The traffic was backed up for a while," he said.

He added: "I was lucky I got to it when I did as it would have crushed my car otherwise.

"It had fallen from within the Sansaw estate and we had to wait until someone could come and clear it.

"There were loads of snapped branches everywhere and I carried on my journey to Wem, and there was debris there too.

"It was a flash storm that blew in from nowhere.

"I did not expect that."