A HUGE tree has come crashing down in Grays this morning - with local residents pointing a finger of blame at Thurrock Council, saying they had warned this was an accident waiting to happen!

The tree came down in Chestnut Avenue and the damage is minimal, with just a dividing wall between homes taking the brunt of the fall. A wheely bin has been crushed!

Thurrock Council staff and workers are on the scene and are removing the huge tree, but it is expected the road will be closed for some time.

Chestnut Avenue resident Jeanette Evers says the council had been alerted to possible dangers but had ignored residents' concerns.

She said: "We have asked the council's tree officer to come and check these big trees as we feared they are top heavy. They have not been cut back or trimmed as others have in the area.

"We have also asked the council to look into bad drainage here. When it rains, the road floods and I can't imagine that does the roots any good. Looking at this tree now it seems rotten at the base where the roots are.

"Has the drainage played a part?

"It's just lucky it fell where it did and no one was injured or cars damaged."