A FAMILY whose house was crushed by a fallen tree has returned home after almost six weeks.

The Brammer family were evacuated from their home in Carisbrooke Avenue, Whitefield, in January when the region was battered by high winds.

A huge 70-year-old tree was ripped from the pavement and crashed into the roof of the semi-detached house in the early hours of the morning of January 8.

One of the front bedrooms was totally destroyed by the tree but fortunately the Brammers son Stephen (24) was away for the night.

Mrs Kath Brammer said: "Our son could have been killed if he had been at home that night. We were all in shock. It has been dreadful."

Mrs Brammer, her husband Tom, Stephen and younger son Paul (16) were evacuated immediately and stayed with neighbours for a few days before moving to a friend's bungalow in Bury.

They finally returned home last week after local builders R. Platt and Sons Ltd took over the refurbishment work.

Mrs Brammer said the house has had a new roof, new windows, porch and garage plus internal decoration, new ceilings and plastering, costing in the region of £30,000.

She added: "The front bedrooms were completely destroyed but the builders have been wonderful. They took charge of everything and we would have been lost without them. They have become friends. Our sons hated being out of the house but we are all delighted to be back home now."