A tree that has stood in a Kent churchyard for 116 years has come crashing down - believed to be a victim of the heatwave currently holding the county in its grip.

The Cedar of Lebanon was planted in the grounds of The Ancient Parish Church of East Farleigh by vicar Mowbray Trotter in 1901.

But yesterday, without any warning, it toppled over - just 45 minutes after church keyholder Sheila Allchin had been digging a small plot for a parishioner’s ashes beneath it.

Gary Hindley, who owns the Old School Hall nearby, had been painting the church walls when he heard a crash. He said: "It sounded like something large falling off the back of a lorry. A cross between a rumble and a swooshing noise.

"It was lucky no one was underneath it at the time. Now it is just lying there looking very sad and smashed up."

The tree missed the church, but has smashed a number of gravestones.

It is not uncommon to hear of parts of trees falling during prolonged hot spells.

Experts warn of sitting beneath them in warm weather due to a phenomenon called “summer branch drop”, thought to be caused by a lack of moisture.

Temperatures have exceeded 30 degrees across the county for the past two days.