A tree which had blocked a park entrance after it fell in a storm two years ago has finally been removed.

The trunk had lain across the gateway to the Gravesend plot after it was uprooted during Storm Dennis in February 2020.

The open space is privately owned by Hyde Housing Association and had become heavily overgrown. The fence separating it from the street had also fallen into disrepair.

Many residents who lived opposite in Singlewell Road called for the tree to be removed.

Sharon Vasudaven remembered the day it came down. She said: "I heard it go and my sons and our neighbours started getting some branches out of the road but nothing has happened since. We are so used to it now. We do not get as many people down here as before."

Her husband Bhargawa Vasudaven added at the time: "It is an eyesore more than anything. I do appreciate people are busy and have better things to do but it would be nice for the dog walkers if it was gone.

"The pathway is well used but it would be nice to have the tree removed."

It was a popular spot for dog walkers, and the entrance had often been used by people as a walk-through to the adjoining football pitches but the blockade prevented this.

It has now emerged that as of July 1, the path was cleared by the landowners and the tree cut in half to open a public access point – although the base still remains as they let nature take its course.

Tony Morgan, Hyde’s head of housing said: "We removed the tree to clear the pathway and make sure the green space was opened up for walkers.

"Local residents had asked us if they could have some of the fallen tree for firewood so we passed their details onto the tree surgeon.

"When removing a fallen tree, our priority is to make sure that the tree is made safe. We have removed the bulk of the tree that was blocking the path and we will now allow nature to take its course with the roots.

"We will monitor the base and roots to make sure they are safe and present no risk to anyone walking or playing nearby."