HIGHWAYS chiefs and a landowner will be alerted to the potential danger posed by diseased roadside trees.

Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle is acting after hearing how a hospice volunteer died when the overhanging bough of an infected Ash was blown down in high winds and landed on his patient transport ambulance last September.

Grandfather George Brown, 68, of High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, who volunteered for the Butterwick Hospice, died instantly in the unusual accident on the A688 at Dunhouse Quarry, between Staindrop and Barnard Castle. A passenger was injured.

The inquest heard from Durham County Council arboriculturalist Rodger Lowe (correct) that Ash trees are prevalent on roadsides throughout the county.

The tree in question had the fungal infection Ash Heart Rot, which affects half of all mature Ash trees and can lead to branches falling.

Britain was hit by the remnant of Hurricane Katya but the wind would was not the sole factor in the bough breaking off..

He added that there was visible evidence of the infection that could have alerted the landowner to the problem.

He also said there was national guidance advising landowners to carry out inspections.

Brian Kitching, the council’s policy and asset manager for strategic highways, said the road was given a monthly "drive-by" safety inspection that included looking for signs of disease or damage to over-hanging trees.

But he said the council did not have the resources to inspect every tree individually.

"If we were to undertake a more detailed inspection of trees, we would have to stop doing something else."

Police accident investigator PC Nigel Craig said it was the first accident of its kind he had dealt with in 27 years and was one of only six nationally.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Tweddle said more people should be aware of the need to check for disease in trees.

He said he would be writing to the un-named landowner to check other trees on the land and to the council’s highways department to see if everything was being done to ensure roadusers’ safety. Both letters would be sent under Rule 43 of coroners’ rules and would require a response.

Afterwards, John Reed, the council’s head of technical services, said: "We will of course look at any issues the coroner raises and respond to him in the appropriate manner."