An elderly lady's bungalow has been badly damaged after the branch of a huge oak tree in the meadow of Wymondham Abbey came down in yesterday's stormy weather.
Residents of the Saffron Housing Association bungalows on Damgate Street thought the worst of the weather was over yesterday afternoon and were shocked when the branch split from the tree, badly damaging the roof of the bungalow closest to the meadow, breaking tiles and guttering.
The branch was still cracking further this morning.
One resident, who did not want to be named, said she had had concerns about the size and proximity of the tree.
'I heard a loud rumble in the afternoon when I was in the kitchen and thought it might be more rolling thunder,' she said. 'We were all rather shaken up to see the branch had come down.
'We don't know if it was struck by lightning. The worst of the rain was in the morning but my neighbour did think she saw a flash just before it came down.'
She said they had reported the damage to Saffron Housing but by Saturday morning had still not heard back from them to find out what was happening or if it was safe to stay in their homes.
'I had been saying that some of the branches needed cutting back on that tree,' she added. 'There were a few dead ones and I have been concerned about it for a while because we get some really strong winds blowing across the meadow.'
The lady whose house was damaged was thought to be at her daughter's on Saturday and was unavailable for comment.
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