A mum-of-three received the fright of her life after a humongous tree was brought down by Storm Doris - just yards from her kitchen window.

Romford Recorder: Danielle's kitchen which is just metres from the fallen tree. Picture: Danielle Seago.Danielle's kitchen which is just metres from the fallen tree. Picture: Danielle Seago. (Image: Archant)

The tree fell yesterday morning at about 8.45am in Heaton Avenue, next to the Dryden Towers in Harold Hill.

It was just one of several trees in Havering that felt the effect of 60mph gales.

But residents in Harold Hill have been counting their lucky stars after a tree believed to weigh as much as 50 tonnes came crashing down in a children’s playground.

Mum Danielle Seago was in her kitchen yesterday when she heard the bang.

Romford Recorder: The tree is believed to have weighed as much as 50 tonnes. Picture: Danielle Seago.The tree is believed to have weighed as much as 50 tonnes. Picture: Danielle Seago. (Image: Archant)

“It sounded like a bomb had gone off,” Danielle said.

“I don’t want to sound too dramatic but it was so loud and really scary.

“I spoke to the tree surgeons yesterday and they told me the tree would have weighed about 50 tonnes.”

Danielle is just thankful that no kids were playing in the playground at the time.

“My kids usually play in there every morning before school but yesterday we were running a bit late.

“God forbid if a child was in there at the time.”

Thankfully for Danielle, gusts of wind were blowing in a westerly direction as if winds were blowing in the other direction, the tree would have probably come through her home.

Havering Council officers and tree surgeons had a busy day yesterday as Storm Doris left a trail of destruction across the borough.

Motorists faced big delays in Upper Brentwood Road, Gidea Park, after a tree fell around 10.45am and meant closures had to be put in place.