SEVERAL cars were crushed when a tree dramatically crashed to the ground in a Hampshire park.

The huge tree toppled over and landed on vehicles parked in bays in Southampton Common at 2pm yesterday.

Motorists returned to the spot close to the Cowherds pub to find their cars buried beneath a mass of branches which smashed their windscreens and damaged roofs.

Noone was hurt or trapped but the vehicles were severely damaged and some shocked owners were left in tears.

Echo reader Stephen Driver was enjoying lunch in the pub when the drama unfolded.

The 65-yearold from Bitterne Park, who took these pictures of the aftermath, said: "There were about five or six vehicles - some that were hit and others were on the periphery.

"It was a big shock and I couldn't quite believe it.

"Some of the drivers were upset and in tears. Other people couldn't get out of the car park because the tree was blocking the way and it was a bit of a nightmare.

"The police and tree surgeons turned up.

"It's fortunate there was noone inside the vehicles."

Tree surgeons from Southampton City Council arrived to saw through the fallen trunk and branches and cut it into smaller pieces for removal.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue were initially alerted but crews turned back after discovering no one was trapped.

A spokeswoman said: “We were called by a member of the public to reports of a tree down in a car park near the Cowherds Pub.

“There were no person’s injured or trapped so the crews were not required.”