Belchamp Otten: Lucky escape for brothers as tree crashes down on their cars

Two brothers had a lucky escape after a tree fell on their cars at The Red Lion in Belchamp Otten. Photo: Martin Runnacles (Image: Archant)

Richard Webber, 70, and his brother David, 68, had taken their wives for a drink at The Red Lion in Belchamp Otten on Valentine’s Day.

Richard, who lives in Clare with wife Sue, said: “We both pulled into the car park at the same time and parked up.

“We got out of the cars and turned around to see this huge conifer tree which was blowing about quite a lot so I said to David that we had better move them.

“We got in the cars and started them but didn’t manage to get anywhere because we were covered by the tree that came crashing down right on top of us.

“But luckily the big heavy tree trunk fell between the cars and we were unhurt.”

He said his brother’s car, a Saab convertible, was completely wrecked but that his Vauxhall Astra survived relatively unscathed with a dent and broken wing mirror.

Richard added: “We had several drinks afterwards although we actually laughed about it.

“Both David and I want to thank the staff and customers at the pub for helping organise the clear up.

“They did a magnificent job so we could get the cars out.”