A resident had a lucky escape after a falling tree branch embedded itself a verge outside his home “like a spear”.

David Burrows left his home in Mote Avenue, Maidstone, to go to Sainsbury’s, a short walk away, during last weekend’s Storm Darragh, which brought high winds across the country.

When he returned, he found a bough from one of the lime trees growing in the verge between his house and the road had broken off and lodged itself in the ground.

The retired research scientist said: “I was only gone about 15 minutes.

“When I came back there it was. It must have broken off from quite a height to hit the ground with such force that it stuck in.

“It was like a spear.

“I usually cut the corner and walk across this piece of grass. It’s a good job, neither I nor anybody else was underneath the tree at the time.”

Mr Burrows feels the trees pose a safety risk and wants Kent County Council to cut them back.

He added: “They are huge here. Several times as high as our houses.”

KCC has been asked for comment.