TWO men were killed when a huge oak tree crashed down on to their cars in a freak accident at Hindhead during the ferocious storms of last October, an inquest heard on Tuesday.

The vehicles being driven by Gavin Parker, (50), and Patrick Redpath, (67) were both crushed by the impact of the 700 kg oak as it was felled by winds of up to 90 mph on the A3.

The tree collapsed across both lanes, striking the cars as they passed each other.

Civil Servant Mr Parker, of Blackwater, Camberley, was killed instantly as the massive trunk landed on the roof of his Subaru.

Mr Redpath, a painter and decorator of Petersfield Road, Greatham, died in hospital two days later after his Renault 19 in which he was travelling with his wife, travelled on for 50 yards after being hit.

An inquest at Woking heard how the storm had lashed the area on the night of October 29.

Charles Haskell, from Portsmouth, who was heading southbound on the A3, told how the weather was atrocious with heavy rain and strong winds.

He said: "I was driving and I was just thinking about putting the radio on when I saw this black mass coming down in front of me.

"It looked like feathers falling out of the sky. The tree came down almost instantly.

"Instinctively I stood on the brake pedal and the car aquaplaned before the tyres gripped.

"I saw the tree come down and hit the car coming towards me. My vehicle came to a halt in some of the branches.

"I phoned for the emergency services and got out of the car. I was shouting is anybody there, can I help?"

"I expected to find the person from the car sitting on the grass verge at the side."

He then told how, along with another motorist, they found the driver inside the car.

Another motorist Paul Phelan from Mulberry Mews in Wallington, Surrey, who was driving the other way with his fiancee, told how he saw Patrick Redpath's Renault veering towards him.

He said: "We got out to see that the roof was crushed completely. We managed to open the driver's door and he was unconscious when we got to him.

"The woman passenger was conscious and she was talking to me. I could see the rear lights of the Subaru on the road in front. The tree had landed on top of it."

Pathologists reports found that Mr Parker died from multiple and severe crushing injuries.

Mr Redpath suffered spinal fractures and died two days later and his injuries were described as being consistent with a blow to the top of the head.

David Rose of the Forestry Commission Research Agency said the oak tree, believed to be between 90 and 120 years old, was in a healthy condition.

It was situated on the edge of a drainage ditch that runs along the side of the A3 and Mr Rose told the inquest that its roots could have "acted like a hinge" in the wind to bring the tree down across the road.

Coroner Michael Burgess, recording verdicts of accidental death said: "I am satisfied that neither vehicle was in collision with each other and neither was travelling fast."

He said he would be writing to the Department of Transport suggesting that other trees in the area should be examined, particularly those close to the drainage ditch.