“A CHILD could have been killed”.

That is the claim of people living close to a Southampton playground where a massive branch crashed down on to a children’s slide.

The ten-metre bough from the liquidambar tree branch fell into a small children’s play area near Arnheim Close, Lordshill, and landed on the bottom of the outdoor slide.

It comes just two months after Arnheim Close resident Sue Parker contacted Southampton City Council with concerns over the safety of the trees.

Fortunately the park was deserted at the time the branch crashed down.

Mrs Parker said she was unloading her car when she heard a “horrendous noise”.

She said: “The top of the tree had fallen down in the play park.

“Luckily it was a Sunday, otherwise there could have been a child on the slide. It would have killed them easily.

“The council person that spoke to my daughter Tracy said if anyone got hurt they would be compensated, but if it came down on someone they would have died.”

Mrs Parker said she contacted Southampton City Council two months ago with safety concerns over the trees being overgrown.

Council workers felled the tree and removed it from the site yesterday.

She added: “I look after my grandchildren Aaron and Thomas during the summer and the play park is the only place children in the area have to go and play.”

Fellow Arnheim Close resident Sue Bowles said: “Thank God none of the children were in the park at the time it fell down. I would hate to think what could have happened if one of the kids had been there.”

A Southampton City Council spokesman said: “All trees close to play areas are categorised as ‘high risk’ and as such, in line with industry best practice guidance, are surveyed every two years.

“The tree was due for inspection this autumn. It is standard practice that after any reports of broken or falling tree branches, or other resident concerns, our team carries out a site visit and undertakes any necessary works.

“Not every branch fall is foreseeable, so despite a risk-based programme of maintenance, occasionally such events happen. We were very pleased to hear no one was in the play park at the time; thankfully, injuries caused to people by falling branches are extremely rare.”