A large tree suddenly crashed down into the road outside a school after being weakened in the ferocious St Jude’s storm earlier this week.

Ham & High: After the storm,a large Plane tree comes down in Frognal opposite UCSAfter the storm,a large Plane tree comes down in Frognal opposite UCS (Image: © Nigel Sutton email pictures@nigelsuttonphotography.com)

The London Plane toppled over in Frognal, Hampstead, yards from University College School yesterday.

Ham & High: After the storm,a large Plane tree comes down in Frognal opposite UCSAfter the storm,a large Plane tree comes down in Frognal opposite UCS (Image: © Nigel Sutton email pictures@nigelsuttonphotography.com)

Residents said it was lucky the street has been quieter than usual this week, with fewer cars and pedestrians because the school is on its half-term holidays.

Frognal resident Matt McCarthy said: “Obviously, it’s lucky that UCS is closed as usually the road is very busy and clearly potentially there could’ve been a very serious accident.”

Daniel Gvirtzman, another Frognal resident, said: “I arrived home 20 minutes before it fell and parked about 10 feet from where it fell.

“If I had parked further up the road, it would have been curtains.”