It was ‘the sound of thunder’ said Rob Higgins after this Canadian maple, pictured, crashed through the roof of his parents home during Storm Ciara.

The 60ft tree, which had sat majestically on the verge outside Paul and Ruth Higgins’ home in Church Meadow, Long Ditton, toppled during the storm which wreaked havoc on the UK on Sunday. Fortunately no one was hurt.

“It came down around 11.15am,” said Rob after he had greeted the tree surgeons who had been dispatched by Surrey County Council yesterday (Monday) to assess the problem. “The roots have all been completely ripped up.

“It has gone through and over the roof and also down the side of the house. I think the chimney may be OK but it is difficult to tell. We are at the mercy of the weather which may let water into the roof but all is OK at the moment. Hopefully we will be able to get some tarpaulin up to cover the ridge once they have removed the tree.”

The maple, one of a number of a similar age in that stretch of the road, was a sapling when the Higgins, now 83, moved into their chalet-style home when the houses were first built 52 years ago.

Surrey Highways contractors are due to remove the tree using a crane today (Tuesday).

Further up the road, at the top end of Church Meadow, a smaller tree, a type of cherry – around 13ft tall – also came down in the storm but fortunately landed safely in the road. It has since been cleared.