One of Bradford on Avon’s ancient oak trees was chopped down last week after it was severely damaged by lightning in last month’s storm.

Rain lashed the county on September 18 and the oak tree in Spencers Orchard was hit by one of the lightning strikes.

Lyn Joyce, who has lived in Spencers Orchard for 21 years, said: “I didn’t realise it was the tree. The computer blew up so we thought that was the bang.

“The next morning when I looked out the window I saw one of the branches had been struck.

"I rang Wiltshire Council who came out in 45 minutes, then the contractors came and carried out an assessment.”

Not only had the tree suffered extensive damage, but it was adjacent to an electricity substation, so the tree had to be dismantled carefully, safely and quickly.

Because of its height, a supersized access platform was needed, which was supplied by Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, allowing the Conservation Contractors team to start work.

First they had to make the tree safe by reducing the height from some 25 or 30 metres by half.

“They said it was quite bad and they would take the weight out of it,” said Mrs Joyce.

“When they took the weight out of it they realised it was unstable.”

The dismantling continued last week until now only a stump remains. The small brushwood was chipped and the timber has gone locally for firewood.

William Warden, owner of Conservation Contractors in Devizes, said: “We were pleased to help.

"It was one of the jobs that needed not only the skills of our experienced team of tree surgeons, but also our equipment and know how to dismantle the tree without damaging the substation”

Mrs Joyce added: “The tree was taller than the house. It looks very different now and it is a lot lighter. The stump could be made into a bench.”