Family-of-five's home nearly demolished by huge oak tree

A family are lucky to be alive after their house was almost demolished by a massive oak tree.

The end terrace was left in ruins after the tree suddenly toppled over.

Photos showed teams of emergency services desperately trying to remove the enormous oak, which is about six-feet taller than the building.

It was eventually pulled out after special equipment was used to cut it into pieces - leaving behind the ruined side wall of the house, in Crawley, West Sussex.

Tree surgeons were called in to cut away as much of the oak as possible, before the rest was pulled out.> Heavy machinery including trucks and a JCB were also used during the recovery operation.> The fallen tree tore a huge hole through the top half of the side wall and internal breeze blocks were also exposed by the crush.> But it is still a mystery why the tree, which was growing about 15 feet away from the house, toppled over.