A 400-YEAR-OLD oak tree has fallen into a school field - and flattened its outdoor learning area.

Pupils and staff at Ysgol Bryn Clwyd, a primary school in Llandyrnog, near Denbigh, were busy in class as Storm Ali raged on when they heard a huge 'whoosh' and a 'bang'.

They looked onto the field to see the giant four-century-old oak tree that neighboured the school had collapsed onto their field.

Upon further inspection, they realised the tree had flattened their allotment and outdoor furniture valued at thousands of pounds.

Richard Monteiro, headteacher at Ysgol Gellifor, a Ruthin primary school that is federated with Ysgol Bryn Clwyd, was at the Denbigh school during the time of the incident. He said: "It was so windy, I've never seen anything like it.

"The children were in class at the time. There was a crashing sound and a loud bang.

"We looked out to see a tree adjacent to the school had fallen onto the field and ruined the allotment.

"Fortunately nothing hit the building."

Pupils had been instructed to remain indoors throughout the day due to strong winds that the Met Office said could reach up to 60mph.

Mr Monteiro added: "There was no reason anyone should have been on the field as we did not allow it because of the weather."

Pupils had planted vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and marrows in the allotment, which were being sold to nearby pub The White Horse and used in the school's canteen meals. The vegetable patch had also recently been entered into a school gardening competition, the Ruthin Show Society 2018 School Gardens.

Raised planters, wooden archways and an oak table and chairs used for outdoor studying were also destroyed by the oak tree.

Mr Monteiro said: "There has been thousands of pounds of damage caused. The school will have to carry out a number of fundraisers to raise money for another outdoor area.

"Fortunately the allotment had already been judged, and pupils received a highly commended award."

The tree has since been chopped into pieces and removed from the field.