A MAJOR clean up operation of the devastation caused across Worcestershire during Storm Doris, is well underway.

Head of Worcestershire County Council's Highways department, John Fraser, has told of how the "exceptional busy day" of Thursday continued into Friday, as teams dealt with the aftermath including 300 trees that came down.

At the height of the storm wind speeds reached as high as 65mph, damaging buildings and leaving homes without power when live power cables were brought down.

"It was very lucky no one was seriously hurt in Worcestershire," Mr Fraser said.

"Take the tree coming down in Severn Terrace - it is very lucky a pedestrian or someone in a vehicle wasn't crushed.

"It is a relief there was no reports of anyone physically injured.

"Thursday was an exceptional busy day, one of the busiest I can ever remember.

"I want to thank all staff, and contractors for their work. There was also excellent co-operation between us, West Mercia Police and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service."

Mr Fraser said throughout Friday teams were out travelling around the county, stopping at any trees to help chainsaw them into smaller parts, and removing them where possible.

Among the incidents they went out to were two trees down in Elm Road, Evesham, an "enormous" tree that fell into the A442 in Bridgnorth, and another tree that crashed to the floor near Holt Heath.

At the height of the storm the fire service went out to 64 "weather related emergencies", many involving fallen trees and dangerous structures.

Area commander Jon Pryce said: “Our crews and officers worked hard to ensure that our local communities were safe, and disruption was kept to a minimum.”

Meanwhile a woman has described the terrifying moment a tree crashed to the floor during the storm, stopping only inches from her house in Dines Green.

The occupier of the house, in Gresham Road, was at the property with her daughter when the tree fell at 11.30am.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: "It was very upsetting, I was here at the time and I was shaken by it.

"It hasn't come through any of our windows - we were lucky. Now we have to arrange for it to be cleared."

Her next door neighbour added: "I was going up the stairs when I heard a massive bang, and I thought 'what was that'.

"Imagine if it had fallen the other way onto the path, when children were here.

"It could have been a lot worse."

At Camp House, in Grimley, a historic horse chestnut tree also went crashing to the floor, and into the River Severn at around 10am.

Landlord Jim Wainwright, 72, said: "It is very sad, we have been told it was the biggest tree in Worcestershire.

"It is going to be a big job to clear up, if needs to be a priority.

"Part of it could get swept away, and would crash into Worcester Bridge within less than 10 hours."