A Wigan home has been significantly damaged after a crane toppled over in the road, crashing into an upstairs room of the property.
Emergency services attended the scene on Flapper Fold Lane in Atherton at around 10.30am on Saturday morning. Police closed a 100 meter stretch of road between Gloucester Street and Brierfield Avenue while recovery teams worked throughout the day to remove the fallen crane from the roof of the house.
Images taken at the scene show significant damage to the property where the crane smashed through the roof and into what appears to be an upstairs bedroom, crushing the window and leaving a large hole in the front of the house.
READ MORE: Crane topples over in Wigan and ‘slices through house’ – live updates
The Manchester Evening News understands that the lorry supporting the crane overturned in the road as it attempted to remove a green container from an adjacent playing field, causing the crane to fall into the residential property. Greater Manchester Police confirmed there were no reported injuries, and officers are looking into how it happened. Wigan Council is said to be helping the occupants of the house to find temporary accommodation.
GMP Leigh, Atherton and Hindley said in a statement on social media just before 5pm that officers were called to reports of a crane crashing into a building “causing a fire to break out”. However, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said firefighters “worked to isolate the gas and electricity to the property and clear spilled fuel from the roadway” before leaving the scene shortly before 1pm.
Sergeant Luke Mclachlan, from GMP’s Wigan and Leigh District, said: “Officers are working, alongside emergency services to investigate and clean up an incident involving a crane colliding with a residential building. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported, and enquiries are ongoing to find out how this happened.”
He added: “A scene is expected to remain in place until later today and we ask members of the public to please avoid the area. We would like to thank you for your patience while we respond to this incident.”
Local residents gathered at the cordon to watch recovery teams lift the crane from the house at around 3pm. A police cordon was also placed at the edge of Meadowbank Playing Fields, which is opposite the damaged property.
A spokesperson for GMFRS said: “At around 10:30am today (Saturday 6th April), firefighters were called to reports of a crane that had fallen through the side of a residential property in Atherton, Wigan.
“One fire engine from Atherton fire station quickly arrived at the scene, where a lorry carrying the crane had overturned in the roadway. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) established a cordon on the street, while firefighters worked to isolate the gas and electricity to the property and clear spilled fuel from the roadway.
“The scene has now been left with GMP and the crane operating company to arrange recovery of the crane. The occupants are being supported by the local authority to find temporary accommodation.”
The incident comes as strong winds brought by Storm Kathleen battered the region on Saturday. Wind gusts of around 40mph were forecast in Greater Manchester, while areas nearer to the coast experienced gusts of up to 70mph, the Met Office said.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
