A dog walker has described their “pure shock” after part of a huge tree hit him when it came tumbling down onto a road during a storm.

The horse chestnut came crashing down in Vicarage Lane, Upper Stoke, on the Hoo Peninsula.

Residents say it was deemed “dangerous” by Medway Council more than two years ago but no action has yet been taken.

The large tree took out a power line and blocked the road when it fell at around 11.50am on Sunday, January 21 during Storm Isha.

Shane Wright was passing through on his daily walk with his sister-in-law and dog Blossom when it happened.

“I heard a crackling from the side of me and the tree came down,” he said. “Within five seconds it was on the floor.

“The branches hit me on the head and as I was backing up from it the live cables wrapped around me as well.

“Luckily enough I pulled the dog from underneath the tree.”

Shane and his one-year-old cocker spaniel came away with only minor injuries.

He added: “I always have her on a short lead as she is quite energetic, but I think she was as stunned as I was.

“It missed me by about 2ft.

“The smaller branches were whipping around my head and shoulders. I was in pure shock.

“I sat down on a brick wall nearby just to compose myself.”

As a result, people living in the cul-de-sac were left without electricity and wifi for 26 hours.

Resident Joe Brandon says the tree also fell directly across the road, blocking access to eight houses.

“We heard a massive crash and cracking. It sounded serious,” the 22-year-old explained.

“The closer you got to it, the bigger you realised it actually was.

“Our chainsaws wouldn't even touch the surface of it, which is why we were so stressed.

“We even had to climb over the tree just to get some dinner because we had no power.”

More than six hours later, a tree surgeon arrived and cleared a gap in the middle for access.

Several trees in the area – including those in Mr Brandon’s home – have long-standing preservation orders.

However, the horse chestnut is on a patch of land that isn’t owned by any of the residents.

Back in August 2021, the tree in question was reported by homeowner Gary Jackman to the council.

He flagged it on an online portal, describing it as a “disaster waiting to happen”.

The 61-year-old said: “A large bough had come off the tree, fallen onto the drive and narrowly missed my car.

“First they deemed the tree wasn't dangerous. Then they did a U-turn and Lee Curtis the tree officer came out a couple of days later.

“He told me it was dead and had to come down.

“It would need to be a controlled power shutdown to be able to do that.”

Gary says he contacted the council and UK Power Networks two or three times after his initial complaint, but claims nothing has happened since.

“I've been living in fear for the last three years,” he added.

“That bit of land has never been maintained in the 32 years I have been here.

“Who is going to be held to account? Nobody has taken responsibility and we are now in this state.

“I can't say it enough – it could have been avoided. It's a disgrace, the whole thing.”

A spokesman from Medway Council said: “Medway Council, Medway Norse and UK Power Networks are currently looking into why this work did not take place.

“We apologise to the residents affected by this unfortunate incident.”

Many of the residents are now worried that more trees in the area are set to topple.

Joe said: “Considering how many years it's gone on for, it's extremely frustrating.

“My mum is worried and she doesn’t sleep most nights.

“You hear a bit of wind outside and start to worry that one's going to come down and take the house out.

“We just want some sort of action. They keep just providing us with empty promises, saying they will sort it.

“It feels like we are forgotten out here because we're in the middle of nowhere, but we're still residents of Medway.”