QUICK-THINKING residents helped keep pedestrians and drivers safe after a tree was blown onto a set of power cables by Storm Doris.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service was called to Notley Road, Braintree, at 3.12pm last Thursday, where a large tree had been pushed over from a garden by strong winds and was resting on the power line.

Notley Road is home to both the John Ray Infant School and Notley High School, with the road being a rat run around the end of the school day.

Luckily the potential risk was minimised by resident Matt Ager and his wife who on the advice of Essex Police used their vehicles to block the section of the road from through traffic.

Mr Ager said: “My wife had just come back from doing her jobs and she saw the tree hanging over the road. We thought we should block the road off as soon as possible. I could not see the tree lasting much longer and the area needed to be made safe.”

Essex Police maintained the road closure until around 8pm when a tree surgeon was able to make the area safe.

Mr Ager said: “It is a significant road around Braintree and it is busy especially around school times. It could not have happened at a worse time of the day with the schools having just got out. It doesn’t really bare thinking about what could have happened.

“Some people weren’t happy and it is amazing how many people swear at you when you are delaying their journey.”

UK Power Networks engineers attended to check the lines and found there was no loss of electricity.