Crane crashes down. (From Stourbridge News)

Crane crashes down.

12:33pm Friday 25th January 2008 in Local

A HOUSE in Lye was badly damaged after a crane toppled over and smashed into the roof.

The crane, belonging to MD Crane Hire Ltd from Leys Road, Brierley Hill is believed to have fallen over while lifting steel girders over a house in Hadcroft Grange where work on an extension was taking place.

The incident took place at around 3pm on Thursday January 24, although no-one was hurt neighbour Mary Hill, aged 65, was shocked when she discovered how close she had been when the arm of the crane crashed onto the roof.

Mrs Hill said: "I was on my own in my house, in the kitchen making tea, and heard a bang, the builders make a lot of noise and I didn't think anything at the time."

After a telephone call from a concerned neighbour, Mary went outside to be confronted by the amazing sight of the crane on its side resting on the roof of the house next door, only metres away from her kitchen.

Mrs Hill said: "I was very shaken up and upset, I was concerned about the house."

Engineers were quickly on the scene with additional equipment to lift the crane back onto its wheels and an inspector from Dudley Council was called to ensure the affected buildings were safe.

The Managing Director from MD Crane Hire Mr MWF Dodd said: "The hydraulic pipe was lifting light beams when it happened.

"The arm started to go down very slowly on the roof luckily nobody was hurt in the accident.

"It was a mechanical fault due to wear and tear it was one of those things."