THE OWNER of this Mercedes narrowly avoided a heft bill after a 'giant' fir tree was blown just inches from it by Storm Georgina.

The huge tree came down across Thesiger Road in Abingdon at about 10.30am this morning, in what residents called 'gale force winds'.

Storm Georgina has been sweeping across England and Wales today after battering Ireland yesterday.

Thesiger Road resident George Haslam was at home with his wife this morning when the tree came down.

He said the first he knew about it was when he looked out the window and saw a car driving the other way down the street.

He said: "I went out to look and the end of the road had this great big tree across it."

Mr Haslam said some of the branches had just been touching the white Mercedes.

After going out to town in the late morning, he came home about midday to discover the tree had already been chopped up and taken away.