Witnesses have described the moment a tree went down narrowly missing a car.

The huge tree came down earlier on Monday morning in Penhill on Grafton Road at around 7:45am.

It is currently unclear why the tree went down, but the dry weather may well have played a part.

Residents have described a loud bang.

Mike Turner who lives in Penhill described what he saw.

“I was walking to work this morning when I heard a big snapping sound," he said.

“It was massive, I turned around and I saw it mid-fall.

“It was a big crushing noise, it was like when you snap a branch, there was a big thud.”

Images show just how lucky it was that nobody was seriously injured.

Swindon Advertiser:

The roots of the tree have completely given way before it comes to a rest just outside the flats.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson said: “Most of the fallen Whitebeam tree at Grafton Close in Penhill was made safe and cleared on Monday (15 August) by our tree gang. The root ball will be left until someone is available with a tractor.

"An initial inspection revealed that the tree suffered from root decay, a process that happens over years and is very difficult to tell without looking at the roots themselves.

"We regularly inspect trees in the Borough, but during these high temperatures, trees become more stressed due to lack of water.

“The wood from the fallen tree will be sent to one of our centres to be recycled.

“To report a fallen tree, residents can go to: https://bit.ly/3Pnzr4n”

Trees going down will bring back memories for residents in Swindon.

Earlier this year, Storm Franklin, Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice caused widespread damage with numerous trees falling, causing some buildings damage.

Great Western Railway had to suspend services across significant parts of its network because trees and other debris were blocking the tracks.