A LARGE branch which fell 20 feet onto a car could have killed or injured a child, angry residents claim.

Householders in Westgate Avenue, Bury, which overlooks the trees which bound Manchester Road Park, say they have repeatedly voiced their concerns to the council over the past three years.

They say several trees are overgrown and brittle boughs are in danger of breaking and falling to the ground.

Wednesday's accident involved a large branch and foliage which plunged onto the bonnet of a Nissan Bluebird car parked across the road from houses in Westgate Avenue.

Damage to the vehicle was minimal, although residents say a child or elderly person would not have been so lucky if struck by the bough.

Mrs Barbara Tuzylak said: "I was in my house when I suddenly heard a crack. When I looked out, I saw the branch come sailing down onto the car.

"I was afraid something like this would happen. I've signed the council complaints book on two occasions, asking that something be done to make these trees safe." Neighbour Mr Geraldo Iannaccone said: "I initially contacted Bury Council three years ago and in all have complained three times about the state of the trees.

"Workmen eventually came out and chopped about three inches off a couple of the trees. But much more needs to be done."

His son, Geraldo Jnr said: "Many of the branches are unhealthy and brittle. It was just lucky no-one had been walking on the pavement when the branch fell.

"A child could have been killed or seriously injured if they'd been hit by it."

He added: "Not too long ago, some twigs fell onto my sister's car. But what has happened now is far more serious."

Now, residents want the local authority to take urgent action by cutting down suspect branches.

Neighbours say that ironically, the Nissan Bluebird apparently belongs to a Town Hall employee who parks the vehicle at the same spot every day.

A spokesman for Bury Council said all park trees were inspected at least once every twelve months.

He added: "The problem with the ones in Manchester Road is they are over 100 years old.

"With the recent dry weather, branches are made very dry and the sudden downpour made them very heavy. It was a very unfortunate incident."

Meanwhile, the local authority is to investigate this week's incident.

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