Last updated 15:43, Wednesday, 03 December 2008

A 30-FEET high metal scaffolding tower crashed to the ground, narrowly missing shoppers in Millom last week.

The scaffolding fell across the road on Wellington Street at 9.45am on Wednesday of last week and through a glass display window at Ferguson’s shop opposite.

The road was completely blocked following the incident but no one was injured.

John McMahon, manager of Speedier Scaffolding, which owns the scaffolding, said: “The driver of the vehicle set off while it was tied to the scaffolding and pulled it over.

The scaffolding was tied to the building.

“We have been very, very lucky. We are pleased that everybody was uninjured.

“We have to put it back up because it is unsafe, they have taken everything off the roof so it is open to the elements.”

A police spokeswoman said: “The incident involved a white van driven by a man.

“The vehicle had a rope attached from the scaffolding, when the vehicle drove away it pulled down the scaffolding.”

The incident occurred when staff from Millom construction company Samuel Sheldon’s Ltd were working on the roof of a house in the street.

No one was on the scaffolding at the time of the incident.