GALE FORCE winds sent a huge 80-foot tree crashing down across a residential street in Barmouth, trapping shaken residents.

Natalie James, who lives on St Johns Hill adjacent to the large collapsed cedar of Lebanon tree, was left “numb” by the incident.

“It was late yesterday evening when I heard a huge crash,” she said.

“The tree fell a few feet from our bay window where my two boys, four and nine, were playing just a few minutes before.

“We’re all very shaken and quite numb, I just thank God that nobody was hurt.”

High waters and gusting winds have caused widespread storm damage and flooding across Meirionnydd in the last fortnight.

Natural Resources Wales has issued several warnings in the last few days asking people to be alert and prepared for stormy weather as heavy and persistent rain fell over most of Wales and Storm Barney rattled through North Wales.

The most intense rainfall occurred on Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning, which lead to flooding across the area.

The worst of the weather occurred on Tuesday evening, 17 November.

Aberdaron topped the wind speed charts in the UK on Tuesday night with gale force winds reaching 85mph.

The Dwyfor region was battered by Storm Barney through the night and left many homes without power.

Many homes in the area of Aberdaron were still without power on Wednesday morning.

Earlier in the week the fire service was called to the Metcalfe Factory at Glanypwll, Blaenau Ffestiniog to pump out the water.

And there were no trains from Llanrwst to Blaenau for days because of the flooded Vale of Conwy line.

Over the weekend, Scott Squires from Natural Resources Wales said: “We’re asking people to take great care and to be prepared for flooding.

“Our staff will be out working all weekend putting measures in place to prepare for flooding, and to help reduce the impacts on people and their property.

“We advise people to keep an eye on weather reports.”