SCHOOLCHILDREN were moments from being crushed after a giant sycamore tree from Mel B's estate came crashing down just after they passed under it.

And the four to seven-year-olds believe God stepped in to save them as they left a lesson on baptism at the Little Marlow Church, where a pupil had asked the Rev Sue Irwin to say a prayer as they were leaving.

Oliver Bond, six, said: "Jesus was looking after us and keeping us safe"

The drama unfolded on Monday morning just after 11am when the old tree smashed through the wall to Mel B's large estate, fell across Church Road and on to a parked car. Less than five minutes earlier all 47 pupils from Little Marlow C of E School were walking under the tree holding hands in a crocodile trail.

Mrs Irwin was coming out of the church gates with a colleague when they saw the tree fall.

She said: "The children wouldn't have stood a chance if it had come down when they were there, it happened so quickly. It was a blessing that they were well clear."

Lay minister Peter Kent looked on in horror as the top of the tree smashed down onto his Nissan Almera trapping it under the branches.

Jeanette Hamer, headteacher at the school in School Lane, said: "It would have been very serious if it had landed on us it really doesn't bear thinking about."

She added: "The children were saying that God was looking after us. In assembly the next morning we gave thanks to God that we got back to school safely."

Staff at Mel B's estate, the Manor House, came out to assess the damage and report it to the authorities. But Bucks County Council told the Spice Girl that she would have to remove it herself as the tree was so large and had fallen from her land.

The road was blocked until Monday night when a path was cleared past the tree.

February 14, 2002 13:38