Ashford’s new mayor cheated death - just 14 hours after taking up his role.

Cllr John Holland missed by inches being struck by a falling 30ft tree the morning after his mayor-making ceremony.

He said: "If I had been hit I could have been Ashford’s shortest-lived mayor at just 14 hours.

"The tree fell just 20 seconds later after I passed the spot."

Cllr Holland’s drama happened at 9.15am on Friday as he was returning home from walking his dog.

As he walked through Millbank Road in Ashford with his Cavalier King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, Douglas, the tree crashed down just behind him.

He said: "Douglas turned and moved suddenly, as he usually does when he sees another dog.

"When I turned around I saw the tree had fallen down. It was horrible at the time but I can laugh about it now. Either God was looking after me or the dog was."

Cllr Holland, who was unhurt, had been just 200 yards from his home in The Limes.

He immediately called Ashford Borough Council’s emergency services team to cut up and clear the tree.

Cllr Holland, 78 leader of the council’s Independent group, had been sworn in as Ashford Mayor at 7pm the evening before at Ashford’s Civic Centre.

He now believed the tree had been weakened by recent heavy winds and that a large articulated lorry rumbling past that morning may also have contributed to its fall.