A falling 30ft branch crushed the roof of a car just two days after the vehicle's owner bought it.
Alison Cox, 20, who had bought her Vauxhall Nova for £600, parked it in Southview Road, Southwick, while she visited relatives of her boyfriend.
While she was in their house, gales ripped down the massive branch.
Alison, of Ventnor Villas, Hove, said: "We were sitting having a cup of tea when a neighbour came in and asked if it was my car outside.
"I thought someone must have gone into the back of me but when I got outside I couldn't believe it. This huge tree had fallen across the roof and was blocking the whole road.
"Nobody else's car was damaged but mine was a complete mess. At first I was gutted because I'd only just bought the car but then I realised how lucky I'd been."
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