A WOMAN told today of her lucky escape after her bungalow was struck by a falling tree.

Haxby resident Winifred Ellerby was sleeping in the back bedroom of her bungalow in Station Road when the 50ft beech tree came crashing down.

She said: "I heard what sounded like a big whoosh as though there was a big gale. There was quite a loud crash and I wondered what it was to be honest.

"At first I went and opened the door and I saw branches sticking out and then when I opened my curtains I saw what had happened."

Mrs Ellerby added: "If it had been a bit further over this way there could have been more serious repercussions."

Police said the large tree came down at about 5.45am. It was rooted in the garden of a house in neighbouring Hall Rise, and backs on to Haxby Library, which is next door to Mrs Ellerby's bungalow.

The tree blocked access to the library and to the front of the bungalow. It also brought down phone wires as well as damaging tiles and a fence at Mrs Ellerby's bungalow.

City of York Council workers were called out to deal with the tree, and were expected to have cleared the scene by this afternoon.

A representative of Ryedale Housing Association, which administers the bungalow, had visited Mrs Ellerby and confirmed that the tiles and the damaged fence would be repaired.

A City of York Council spokesman said: "Our staff are at the scene cutting up the tree and clearing the site. The library will be closed for at least the morning."

Forecasters say the winds will continue to be the same through tonight, but should calm down by tomorrow afternoon.

Meanwhile, traffic on the A1 was disrupted today after a lorry overturned onto the busy road.

The incident, which closed lanes, happened near the M1 at Hook Moor interchange, near Garforth.

Drivers were experiencing delays, but AA Roadwatch reported that motorists were only being held up for about five minutes.

Meanwhile winds, gusting at more than 50mph, also caused problems for GNER services travelling to and from Scotland.

Speed restrictions were in place on the East Coast Main Line between Doncaster and Berwick-upon-Tweed, causing some delays to timetables.

Updated: 14:54 Friday, February 22, 2002