MUM-OF-TWO Carolyn Gregory escaped being crushed by a massive tree which crashed down into her back garden thanks to her love of chart-topping singer James Blunt, famous for his smash hit You're Beautiful.

Because she had tickets to see him perform, Carolyn had brought in her washing just minutes before the giant ash smashed down into her property.

The 45ft ash left a trail of devastation, destroying three fences and flattening a garden shed at the three-bedroom semi-detached house in Burns Close, Eastleigh.

As she surveys the garden which is now completely covered by branches and tree debris Carolyn, 38, still cannot believe that she had such a miracle escape.

She had gathered in her washing earlier than normal to leave herself plenty of time to get to the singer-songwriter's concert at the Bournemouth International Centre last Thursday.

She said: "I am still not sleeping at night just thinking what could have happened. The washing line is directly under the tree. A couple of minutes later and I could have been crushed to death. Half an hour later and my children could have been playing in the garden. It does not bear thinking about what might have been if the timing had been so different."

Carolyn said how she had brought in her washing just before going to pick up her eight-year-old son Connor from school. Carolyn said: "I was stood outside the school when the heavens opened up big time."

When she got back from the school there was a note on the doormat which read: "Hello I live round the back. Just thought I'd better let you know the tree is in your garden."

Carolyn said: "I walked through into the lounge and when I pulled back the window blind I just could not believe what I saw. I said Oh My God' and a few more chosen words."

The back door and windows cannot be opened because the fallen tree has completely filled the garden.

Carolyn said: "There is no way we can get into the garden because of the branches."

And it could be like that for about three weeks while they wait for insurance assessors and tree surgeons to carry out work.

Not being able to get into the garden has been a bitter blow for Carolyn's ten-year-old son Callum who is autistic.

Carolyn said: "Callum lives for that garden. It has become a haven for him and he spends many hours playing there. He enjoys getting his scooter and bike from the shed."

His bike which has specially adapted stabilisers was among the property destroyed when the tree crashed through the shed.