Tree surgeon helps police clear blocked roads twice

A tree surgeon who twice assisted police clear fallen trees from roads on a stormy night said he was "in the right place at the right time" to help the community.

James Hoare, 21, from Ravensthorpe, Northampton, was driving along the A5 in Weedon on Tuesday night, when he noticed flashing blue lights ahead.

He said when he spotted a tree blocking the road, he had got out of his car with his chainsaw and told police: "I'll clear it".

But when he left the scene and saw police lights behind him trying to flag him down, he thought he had done something wrong before he was asked to help again at another location.

Hoare said he was going along the A5 at about 23:00 GMT when he saw police lights and then a fallen tree.

"I came down with my chainsaw and said [to police] I'll clear it," he said.

"I had all the kit with me, I do it every day - it would have taken someone else hours to sort out so it made sense for me to just do it.

"I was in the right place at the right time."

He also roped in his friend Seamus Durrell, also 21, to assist.

After leaving the scene, Hoare spotted blue lights behind his vehicle.

"I was flagged down by police and I thought they were pulling me over because I had done something wrong, even though I'd just helped them," he said.

He was then asked if he could go to Long Buckby, where another tree had come down.

"This one took us 40 minutes to clear," said Hoare.

"There's no point waiting for someone else to do it when I do the job anyway - it was just a nice way to help the community.

"I didn't charge, I just did it as I live in the area and it was no hassle for me."

The double good deed was praised by the force on its Facebook page.

"We'd like to thank him for his fantastic community spirit," the post said.

"We're really grateful for his help."

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