THREE homes had to be evacuated in a New Forest village last night for trees to be cut down following storm damage at the weekend.

Tree officer for the district council Andrew Douglas said a 90ft cedar tree in Lyndhurst, thought to be up to 150 years old, had to be reduced for safety reasons after a lightning strike on Saturday "blew the top of the tree out" causing it to split.

"It was an act of God," he said.

Tree surgeons were called out to make the tree safe on Saturday but it had deteriorated further, he said.

Cranes and a mobile platform were brought in last night to work on the tree in Cedar Mount, off Shrubbs Hill Road. Three homes were temporarily evacuated for safety.

A woman was reportedly under the tree when the lightning hit but was unhurt.