A FORMER winner of popular Channel 4 show Come Dine With Me said she thought she was going to die when a 20ft tree in her garden was toppled in high winds.

Lisa Bristow, 31, of Barley Way, Marlow, said a sudden crash and bang gave her a huge fright yesterday afternoon.

After coming home from work at restaurant TGI Friday's she sat on her sofa about 1pm to relax.

But then: “I heard this loud cracking sound and heard this massive blow of wind and it crashed,” she said.

“I just ran because I didn't know what was happening “I thought I was going to die, I thought when the tree was crashing it was going to come through the house.

“I was in the house on my own and the dog was barking because of the wind and it was actually pretty scary.”

She said the 20ft eucalyptus tree had fallen from her garden into her neighbour's backyard, wrecking the fence and damaging her fish pond and shed.

Mrs Bristow won an episode of the cooking programme, aired on Channel 4 last year, which also featured Hughenden Manor House Manager Nicholas Witherick.

Jim Dale from Hazlemere-based British Weather Services said the windy conditions will be gone by the end of this week.

The highest recorded wind speed in the area overnight Wednesday was 50mph, which he said is enough to cause some structural damage.