A "freak storm" felled a tree causing "mayhem" for rush hour traffic and narrowly missing a historic building.

The large tree came crashing down on Tottenham Lane, in Crouch End, at around 5pm on Monday (April 15).

A band of heavy showers and strong winds hit the capital yesterday, with some areas experiencing hail storms, after the Met Office issued a weather warning.

Haringey Council said it received 18 incidents involving fallen trees and large branches across the borough.

David Winskill, a member of the Hornsey Historical Society, said: "The tree fell right at the start of rush hour during a freak storm. It was mayhem.

"Fortunately no one was hurt, but the carcass of the tree and canopy blocked traffic both ways on Tottenham Lane."

Ham & High: Fire crews and tree surgeons tend to a tree which collapsed during Monday's stormFire crews and tree surgeons tend to a tree which collapsed during Monday's storm (Image: David Winskill)

The timber, estimated to be about 40 feet tall, fell across the main road close to the Grade II listed Holy Innocents Church, stopping traffic.  

As it fell, it "narrowly missed" the 150-year-old Hornsey Historical Society building but a metal street sign was destroyed.

Ham & High: The tree destroyed a street sign when it fell during an April storm The tree destroyed a street sign when it fell during an April storm (Image: David Winskill)

"Luckily there was a passing team of tree surgeons who started sawing up the branches just before the fire brigade arrived so at least there was one carriageway traffic could pass along," David added.

"It narrowly missed the Hornsey Historical Society. Everyone was really pleased the building wasn't damaged as the headquarters are there."

Ham & High: The fallen tree was reportedly diseasedThe fallen tree was reportedly diseased (Image: David Winskill)

He said Haringey Council and the London Fire Brigade responded in "double quick time".

He added: "A real worry the whole time was the remaining tree beside it that was really swaying heavily in the wind. 

Ham & High: A fallen tree damaged by a quick storm lies across Tottenham LaneA fallen tree damaged by a quick storm lies across Tottenham Lane (Image: David Winskill)

"The Haringey tree officer said the tree was diseased so they decided to cut down the other one as a precaution."

A spokesperson for Haringey Council said that due to heavy winds two stems of a single tree fell into the road. 

“There had been no visible external defects on this tree that would have indicated internal decay," they added. 

“The final stem remained upright but due to the adverse weather conditions we had to fell this too as it was unsafe and was in danger of falling into the road. 

“No other trees were removed at this site.”