NEIGHBOURS have told of their lucky escape after lightning sent half of a tree crashing into their homes in Darwen.

People living in Wood Street were left astonished by the freak incident in stormy weather late on Tuesday.

About a dozen people were forced to spend the night in a hotel after being evacuated from their homes.

A forlorn-looking tree stripped down beyond the bark bore witness yesterday to the events that residents insist could have led to deaths.

Shelley Tierney, who lives in one of the damaged homes, said: “People were ringing us saying there is a tree in your garden.

“I have never seen anything like it. The tree just split in half.

“If somebody had been just walking in the door it would have crushed them.”

Shelley rushed home from Preston frantic with worry after being alerted by her son.

She added: “If I had not heard what was going on I would have thought it was a bomb scare.

“The sight of the tree in the road, it just looked so wrong.”

Another neighbour said she saw smoke from the tree and could not open her front door for the debris.

She said: “It was really quite scary. All of a sudden I saw a flash and there was an almighty bang.

“I have never known anything like it. I really feared for my daughter’s life as she was sitting by the window.”

Residents praised the quick response of emergency services and the efforts of council and Twin Valley Homes staff.

Police and fire crew attended with minutes and last night council staff and Twin Valley officials were repairing a roof between two houses and clearing debris.

A Lancashire police spokesman confirmed that officers were called about 9.15pm to reports of a ‘natural disaster’ after a 60ft tree collapsed.on to two cars and two houses.

He said: “Nobody was hurt and the incident was dealt with by midnight.”