A Co Antrim man has paid tribute to his "fantastic" neighbours who came to his aid after a tree fell on his house during Storm Ophelia.
Tommy Dowds said it could have been a "different story" had the mature beech tree fallen just two or three feet closer to where he was sitting.
Mr Dowds said that there had been "no noticeable warning - no creaking, or cracking" before the 70ft tree crashed into the sun-room of his home in Broughshane at around 12.35pm on Monday as the storm battered Northern Ireland.
"If the tree had come down two or three feet closer to where I was sitting, it could have been a different story," he said.
"I've had fears about the trees in the past being so close to adjacent residential property".
The Co Antrim man added: "The neighbours have been fantastic - tidying up what could be tidied up and boarding up what could be boarded up".
It is understood the repair bill for the damage could run into the tens of thousands of pounds as the sun room may have to be demolished.
