Bow crane collapse: One dead and four injured in crane collapse

Media captionA 20m-high (65ft) crane crashed on to a property in Gale Street, Bow

One person has died and four people are injured after a crane collapsed on to houses and a block of flats which were being built in London.

The 20m (65ft) crane crashed on to the development and two terrace houses in Compton Close, Bow, just before 14:40 BST.

Despite treatment one person died at the scene. Four others were injured, including two people taken to hospital for head injuries.

A police blockade remains in place.

Image copyright PA Media Image caption One witness described "feeling the ground shake" when the crane collapsed Image copyright @NattyKelly7 Image caption Securing the properties will be a "complex rescue operation," London Fire Brigade said

One witness described "feeling the ground shake" when the crane collapsed in Watt's Grove.

DJ Munro, who lives nearby, says he heard "the metal of the crane crushing against the scaffolding and then the wood crushing in the house".

A video posted on social media showed a terrace house with part of the roof collapsed.

Eyewitness Bridget Teirney said she believed the crane driver had escaped safely.

London Ambulance Service tweeted to say it had "a number of crews and specialist resources" at the scene.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Two people were treated in hospital and another two were treated at the scene Image copyright PA Media Image caption The crane also crashed on to a block of flats under development

LFB assistant commissioner Graham Ellis said securing the house would be a "complex rescue operation".

Mr Ellis said: "Our Urban Search and Rescue crews are undertaking a complex rescue operation and using specialist equipment to search the properties."

The fire service has "deployed a drone to provide aerial imagery to aid with the rescue".

The crane that collapsed was being used by Swan Housing Association and NU living at the time.

A spokeswoman for Swan Housing Association and NU living said they were "aware of an incident that occurred at our Watts Grove development site in Tower Hamlets, east London, this afternoon".

"A full incident response has been implemented and our staff are on site supporting the emergency services in their response."

Jerry Swain, national officer for union Unite, said there had to be "an urgent, full and complete investigation into the circumstances that led to this accident".

He added: "The preliminary findings of which must be released in weeks, rather than months or years, in order to ensure that similar accidents are avoided in the future."