BEWILDERED residents spoke of the moment yesterday when a 27-tonne crane came crashing down into a house.

Pitman Close, South Ham residents ‘could not believe’ what they saw as the vehicle toppled in to the home at 9.50am yesterday (November 2).

Builders are currently working on an extension for the property, but the crane fell into the roof of the building, causing substantial exterior damage.

Peggy Chandler, who lives in the neighbouring house, said: “I was waiting outside for my son-in-law to come pick me up and I just saw it come over.

“There was this almighty crash and I just couldn’t believe my eyes, I could see the driver just hanging there. I was really worried for him, but thankfully he was ok.

“It’s not every day you see a crane come crashing down on a house is it?”

Karen Fitzpatrick, who lives opposite the home, said she was getting ready to leave her house when she saw the crane fall.

She told The Gazette: “We were stood on the decking when the crane put its stable legs down.

“I could see it starting to tip and there was an alarm going off, I just thought it would right itself, but next thing it just carried on going and there was this big bang.”

Mrs Fitzpatrick added: “I cannot fault the emergency services; they acted really quickly and were really good in dealing with the situation.”

When the crane toppled, a man became trapped in the cab and had to be cut out by firefighters. However, he did not sustain any injuries.

Five vehicles from Basingstoke fire station were called to the scene, as well as two ambulances and the air ambulance.

A spokesman from Hampshire Fire and Rescue said: "One man was extricated from the cab of a 27-tonne crane that had fallen on its side into a building. 

"The aerial ladder platform was used to help extricate the man trapped in the cab who fortunately escaped injury.”