A tree toppled over in a busy shopping area, taking down a lamppost and narrowly missing several businesses.

One of the large trees which line Gillingham High Street came crashing down this morning.

Police have cordoned off the area and workers are at the site now removing the debris.

A witness from a nearby business said: "We didn't really see anything it just happened so quickly.

"When we walked down the high street this morning I noticed the Christmas lights had been put up round the tree, but it looked a little different.

"Then the area was blocked off and we were told not to go outside as the tree was going to fall.

"It was more a matter of hearing it than seeing it, it's hard to describe the noise, it was like a crackling.

"Luckily, no one was hurt, from what I've seen everyone is fine.

"A few police officers are here now and there are people chopping up the tree.

"It seems like it was decorated with lights for Christmas and then the lights were pulled onto the lamppost but that has brought the tree down."

One shocked woman - Bonnie Young - posted the image on Facebook group Medway People Group to warn others to be safe.

Many members of the group were saddened by the loss of the tree and feared it had not been maintained properly.

"It's hard to describe the noise, it was like a crackling" - a witness

Medway Council has confirmed the Gillingham switch-on event will run as normal next Friday from 3.45pm.

The authority is looking into what caused the tree to fall.

• In February hundreds of trees fell down in Waldersalde Woods due to snowfall, many people believed this was worsened by a lack of pruning.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway