A SOUTH Cerney homeowner had the shock of her life after a historic building located in the garden of her home narrowly avoided being crushed, last week.

Following high winds, two broad leaf trees fell and narrowly missed the Grade II listed Gazebo building, which dates from the mid 18th century and is a well-known village landmark.

The building is located in the back garden of Church Lane resident, Pamela Walsh who was amazed that the building survived after the trees, which are rooted on the Bow Wow pathway behind her house, came crashing down either side of the building, on Tuesday, February 5. Mrs Walsh, who is a story teller, said: “It is a miracle that these trees did not hit the building. As a story teller for me this is quite a story.

“If this building was knocked down then English Heritage who are responsible for it would have to rebuild it to look exactly the same and that would be impossible.”

The roots of the trees were partly imbedded into the banks of the River Churn, which runs along the Bow Wow.

Mrs Walsh explained that she was worried that the roots were not imbedded deep enough into the ground and could cause the trees to fall.

She added: “I have been trying to get something done about this for ten years.

“Gloucestershire Highways (who are responsible for the trees) employed a tree surgeon and he said they were secure.”

Gloucestershire Highways declined to comment about Mrs Walsh’s criticisms.

However, after the trees nearly fell onto the Gazebo, Gloucestershire Highways removed them and it is currently felling several more trees along the Bow Wow.

Power cables were also severed when the trees fell, causing loss of power to several homes in the village and energy form Scottish Power were called in to replace them.

The Gazebo is regularly hired out for charity dinners and functions by Mrs Walsh and was recently used by children's charity Barnardos.