RESIDENTS were trapped for more than three hours after a fallen tree blocked the one road leading into an estate. The tree came down in high winds on Saturday morning across Layston Park, Royston. Police and engineers from the Highways Agency were called

RESIDENTS were trapped for more than three hours after a fallen tree blocked the one road leading into an estate.

The tree came down in high winds on Saturday morning across Layston Park, Royston.

Police and engineers from the Highways Agency were called out.

There was no-one hurt in the incident.

One Layston Park resident, Graham Pfaff, told The Crow: "It came down right across the road so no-one could get in or out.

"At one point a postman was trapped in the road in his van, but we managed to clear a gap on the pavement so he could continue his round."

Mr Pfaff said that about 20 residents went to the scene and helped to saw through branches of the tree.

The whole operation took about three hours and the tree was eventually cleared from the road at about 1pm.

"It was an old tree and it had been there for years," said Mr Pfaff.

"After it was all cleared it was as though nothing had happened. It seemed like a bit of Harry Potter magic."

The tree was in the rear garden of a house in Layston Park. The owner was away at the time of the incident.