A gianttree crashed on to a pensioner's roof after safety warnings fell on deaf ears.

The tree, from a neighbouring property, landed on the roof of Pam Gray's bungalow on Thursday.

But the 83-year-old said the accident could have been avoided if her fears over the tree had been acted upon.

Mrs Gray said: "If it had gone in the road it could have killed someone.

"I'm very angry because they've left it so long. The developers told me they might come at the end of the development. Now this has happened."

The tree was one of a cluster of 40ft tall trees bordering a retirement home building site in Grange Road, Uckfield.

Mrs Gray was in her kitchen when the tree came crashing down.

She said: "I was having a cup of tea with my brother when suddenly there was this bang. We wondered what it was. I thought it might have been a car crash outside. I went out the front and saw this great big tree on the roof by the chimney."

The tree was removed by officers from Wealden District Council yesterday afternoon. There was no structural damage but a television aerial was thought to have been damaged.

Neighbour Doug Burgess has been putting pressure on the developer, McCarthy and Stone, and the council to take action over the trees.

He said: "We're all pretty angry about this. The poor lady is 83.

"Basically, we feel the developers were fobbing us off. Now what we've said all along has come to fruition.

"We've had a tree come down and more will come down if nothing is done."

The council had granted planning permission to coppice the trees closest to Mrs Gray's garden.

A spokesman for the developer said: "Our contracts manager will assess damage to the neighbouring house and ensure the boundary fence is made good.

"Residents had voiced concern about the condition of several trees on site, all protected by tree preservation orders.

"McCarthy and Stone has been closely following procedure laid down by the council.

"Several weeks ago we applied for consent to trim the trees, which would almost certainly have prevented this situation.

"We had asked for the process to be accelerated in view of the neighbours' concerns but are still awaiting permission. Our hands are tied by procedural obligations."