Six people had to be evacuated from their homes on Sunday night after a 100ft tree came crashing down.

The drama began around midnight after a call was made to police from St Mark's vicarage in Greenhead Road, Keighley.

People from five homes were evacuated to the vicarage as a precautionary measure, and the tree collapsed at 12.20am.

The beech tree had threatened to fall on the bungalow home of 65-year-old Harry Palmer and his wife Irene.

As it fell it hit a wall and twisted away from homes across Greenhead Road, blocking one side of the carriageway.

Mr Palmer said: "If it had gone the other way we would have had it. It would have fallen right across towards our bedroom where we were sleeping.

"I could see the grass in the garden moving up and down as the tree swayed. It was quite frightening. It was a strong wind."

The alarm was raised by Gareth Jamieson who lives next door at Utley Vicarage. He said: "I opened the bedroom window and saw the garden moving up and down, between six inches and a foot. It was quite a sight.

"I knew I wouldn't want to be sleeping near that tree so I telephoned the police because I was concerned about the safety of the elderly people living in the homes.

"When it came down it made a tremendous crash, and luckily went across the road where it also hit a lamp post."

Police inspector David Drucquer said: "The police were there prior to it coming down. A passing patrol officer noticed it looked like it was coming down, and as a precautionary measure evacuated three families.

"It was quite clear it was about to fall in the high gales. The wall that was holding it up was quite obviously buckling.

"We are monitoring the situation, especially during school hours."

Firefighters were called to dislodge a large piece of lead that was hanging precariously from the roof of a Keighley shop.

The 20ft by 10ft section of lead flashing had become loose on the roof of Quikkies Kebab shop, in Cavendish Street, due to windy weather conditions over the weekend.

Firefighters from Keighley fire station used a turntable ladder to reach the flashing which weighed around 150kg and had been flapping in the stormy conditions.

A spokesman for Keighley fire service said: "If it had fallen off and hit someone it could have been very dangerous. We realised it could come crashing down so we gave it a helping hand and brought it down first."

Inspector Mick Hanks, of Keighley Police, said the lead flashing could have caused problems if it had not been spotted by a member of the public.

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