Tree crashes onto house

An 80ft tree that has stood in Tipton for almost 90 years was today cut to half its height after branches split and fell onto a neighbouring house.

Council staff and tree surgeons trimmed it to 40ft.

The black poplar on the corner of Gospel Oak Road and Wednesbury Oak Road failed yesterday afternoon, with branches falling onto a garage. No-one was hurt.

Traffic backed up along Gospel Oak Road while work took place.

Steve Robinson, arboricultural manager for Sandwell Council, said: "We need to cut it back to the point where it failed.

"At the moment we do not know why it failed as the branches and trunk appeared to be healthy. It poses a risk to the public highway and to neighbouring properties.

"Now that one side of the tree has failed the rest of it is in danger of doing so as well and that is why we need to cut it back."

Neighbour Rita Blakemore, aged 74, said: "I have lived here 50 years and that tree has always been there.

"I heard an almighty bang and thought someone was trying to break into the house.

"The family who live where it fell have not been there for very long, but I know that they have an elderly relative living with them and it must have come as a shock."