A BOY aged ten was airlifted to hospital after falling from a storm-damaged tree in Caldicot.

The tree was split down the trunk during last week's storm and the boy is understood to have fallen from a branch that snapped under his weight. He was later back home after escaping with bumps and bruises.

An air ambulance was called to the scene at a grassy area between Durand Road and Fitzwalter Road in Caldicot at 4.46pm on Monday. Lewis Cleaves, a pupil at Durand Primary School in the town, was flown to the Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

Dad Neil Cleaves, 38, from Eagle Close, said his son fell nearly ten feet. He said: "Like any ten-year-old boy he's an adventurous type but we have told him not to play dangerously and climb trees.

"I found out what had happened when one of his friends ran over and told me. Things ran through my mind and I was scared as I ran to the scene. "He must have landed awkwardly but the doctors quickly gave him the full check up and the all clear.

"He says he has learnt a lesson."

A Monmouthshire county council spokeswoman said the tree was cut down yesterday morning.

She said: "The tree was damaged in the storm last week and our grounds maintenance people were informed of this.

"The tree was assessed and was found to be safer than some others in the area which were tackled first.

"This little lad managed to get access to the tree as part of it fell down." She said the branch from which the boy fell would have given way, regardless of whether the tree was unsafe.