Tree crashes on to house as high winds batter Sutton

The destructive force of the storm which tore through Sutton on Wednesday night and Thursday morning was fully evident in Mollision Drive, Roundshaw, with further trees at risk after a large tree was uprooted at around midnight, landing on the roof of a home backing onto Croygas sports club.

The club's caretaker, Gary Harding, was on site after getting the call during the night.

He said: "I got the phone call at midnight.

"They said a tree had fallen down but I just thought it was one of the smaller ones.

"The tenants have been moved into a hotel. They were the ones who made the call first.

"We couldn't do anything until today really as there is nothing we can do in the pitch black and the pouring rain.

"I was quite surprised this morning that there weren't more trees blown down.

"The issue now is how much the tree has upset the other two or three trees that are around it.

"That's because the roots get lifted up and distresses all the ground around it."

The house is the old Croygas caretakers home which is now rented out. The former British Gas site is now run by a committee as a trust.

The tree, said Mr Harding, was on Roundshaw Homes land and so it will be up to them to deal with the fallout.

Mr Harding added: "It's their tree so the longer they leave it the bigger the bill will be."

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: "We attended a house in Mollison Drive last night where a tree had fallen into a house.

"Fortunately there were no injuries.

"A mother and her daughter were inside at the time and taken to alternative accommodation.

"The uprooting of the tree may have damaged earth around it, leading to worries that two or more other trees may also fall.

"There was some structural damage to the house but nothing too severe."

Were you affected by last night's storms?

Contact the newsroom on 0208 722 6355 or email newsdesk@suttonguardian.co.uk.