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News Desk

Couple are lucky to be alive after timber lorry smashes into cottage

Welsh couple’s Victorian stone cottage is DEMOLISHED by huge timber lorry that smashed into their home as they made lunch in terrifying ordeal

  • A lorry carrying logs crashed into a cottage on Monmouthshire country road 
  • Bryony Francis, 51, was luckily in the kitchen when the truck hit her home 
  • She and her husband John Clark, 53, feel lucky to be alive after house destroyed

By Matt Drake For Mailonline[1]

Published: 19:09, 15 May 2021 | Updated: 19:21, 15 May 2021

A couple are lucky to be alive after a giant timber lorry smashed into the corner of their stone cottage and sent huge logs smashing into it.

Bryony Francis, 51, was luckily in the kitchen when the forestry truck hit her home on a country road.

It crashed through the front corner of her cottage, shedding its load of tree trunks and virtually destroying the 120-year-old stone house.

Homeworker Bryony and her husband John Clark, 53, feel lucky to be alive in the accident in the tiny village of Llangua, Monmouthshire

Homeworker Bryony and her husband John Clark, 53, feel lucky to be alive in the accident in the tiny village of Llangua, Monmouthshire

Homeworker Bryony and her husband John Clark, 53, feel lucky to be alive in the accident in the tiny village of Llangua, Monmouthshire

The lorry crashed through the front corner of her home, shedding its load of tree trunks and virtually destroying the 120-year-old stone cottage

The lorry crashed through the front corner of her home, shedding its load of tree trunks and virtually destroying the 120-year-old stone cottage

The lorry crashed through the front corner of her home, shedding its load of tree trunks and virtually destroying the 120-year-old stone cottage

Bryony said: ‘I had just gone to make lunch when there was a massive bang, the doors slammed and the coats were knocked off their hooks,’ she said.

‘There was a rush of air and dust which hit my face and then everything went silent. I had no idea what had happened.’

But she walked upstairs to the front of house to see a gaping hole through to the road, the wall demolished and her living room and bedroom open to the outside world.

‘I tried to open the door from the kitchen into the front room but it wouldn’t open so I knew the ceiling had come down. I went up the stairs, opened the door and could see the front and side walls had gone.

‘It looked like a bombsite and there were tree trunks, about 30 to 40, everywhere.’

Homeworker Bryony and her husband John Clark, 53, feel lucky to be alive in the accident in the tiny village of Llangua, Monmouthshire.

She said: ‘It is still very unreal and a total shock. But we are very lucky, if my husband had been at home he probably would have been sitting in the front room and we could have been looking for a body today.

‘This is a real accident black spot. The speed limit is 60mph but it is at a part of the road where is goes from being wide to very narrow in a very short space.

Gwent Police said the crash had caused ‘substantial damage’ and neighbours had to be evacuated from their homes as a precaution.

Structural engineers are carrying out an assessment of the building, in the village, near Abergavenny

Structural engineers are carrying out an assessment of the building, in the village, near Abergavenny

Structural engineers are carrying out an assessment of the building, in the village, near Abergavenny

One man was taken to hospital with head and leg injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening following the crash.

Structural engineers are carrying out an assessment of the building, in the village, near Abergavenny.

‘We have no idea what is going to happen now. There is a structural engineer coming out to assess the damage and we are not allowed back in the house. Thankfully, we have got a great network of friends here and we have got somewhere to stay.’

Their house on the main A465 Heads of the Valleys road – and it will be closed between Pontrilas and the Hardwick Roundabout at Abergavenny until next week.

References

  1. ^ Matt Drake For Mailonline (www.dailymail.co.uk)

News Desk

Refugee’s inspiring journey from child asylum seeker to owner of ‘Eggoland’

A refugee who came to the UK in a lorry is now preparing to open an egg-based restaurant called ‘Eggoland’.

Sohail Ahmad arrived in Kent at the tender age of 12 after travelling all the way from Afghanistan on a truck.

He was taken in by Ashford county council social services and soon started to thrive at the Swattenden Centre in Cranbrook, which housed young asylum seekers until 2012.

Now aged 32, Sohail is preparing to open Eggoland in central London this summer, KentLive[1] reports.

He told KentLive: “Kent was my first home when I came to the UK, the first step I took on UK soil was in Ashford.

“Kent social services played an incredible part in my life in terms of settling me into the country and integrating me into the system.”

Sohail was a keen amateur boxer when he arrived in England
Sohail became a keen amateur boxer in England (Image: Posh Cockney)

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Sohail described his time at the Swattenden Centre as a crucial period in his life.

He added: “They had incredible programmes and routines for kids like books and libraries, and people who came to educate the kids, teaching them English, and integrating them into society.”

He looks back fondly on his memories of his time in Cranbrook, particularly the day trips to Brighton, Gillingham and Maidstone, where he was given swimming lessons.

Sohail speaks highly of his social worker Gill Martin and the resident translator who the young boys called Uncle Harshim.

In 2008, after leaving the Swattenden Centre and moving to London, Sohail began his career as an amateur boxer.

He started boxing after being bullied at school
He started boxing after being bullied at school (Image: Posh Cockney)

It started as a way of protecting himself when he was bullied at school but in 2015 he turned professional, dominating the ring and winning all of his fights bar one so far.

But his latest venture is a pet-friendly, Halal restaurant in Fitzrovia.

His love of food arose whilst he was cleaning dishes in restaurants to earn some money shortly after he arrived in the UK, and the egg-based concept comes from his frustration at never being able to order eggs the way he likes them.

Eggoland will serve a variety of egg-based dishes from egg sandwiches through to vegan options and spicy alternatives, at a reasonable price.

Sohail said: “Coming from an under-privileged background you don’t have the money to be in a high-end restaurant.

“I wanted to make something tasty and trendy, but good value for money.

“Money is a big factor in everything.”

He hopes success of the Fitzrovia branch will bring him international success in the future.

Alongside boxing and opening restaurants Sohail supports the homeless, visiting train stations near his home in West London to provide them with food.

He has also started a foundation in Afghanistan providing families in need with food rations and other necessities.

He said: “If anyone is reading this with the same background I have, I would love to come and share my story with them and inspire them, motivate them, or give them hope that if you work hard and stay disciplined you can achieve anything.”

References

  1. ^ KentLive (www.kentlive.news)
  2. ^ here (www.mirror.co.uk)

News Desk

Bridge collapses as 120-tonne section falls onto road below in terrifying scenes

A truck has been smashed by a huge section of bridge during demolition works.

The incident happened in Regent Street near Leeds City College’s Quarry Hill campus as workmen tried to move the section of the bridge from a crane, with the 120 tonne debris landing on a truck.

Images from the scene have been shared online following the incident and appear show the road has been severely damaged from the incident.

An eyewitness told LeedsLive[1]: “120 tonne section of the A64 bridge replacement has just collapsed on the truck from the crane.”

Regent Street, Leeds, A64 bridge collapse
The A64 bridge replacement fell from a crane onto a truck below

The A64 is currently closed due to long-term construction work to upgrade the Regent Street flyover in the city centre.

This weekend is the first of four consecutive weekends when the road was due to be closed for the construction works to take place.

Regent Street at the Inner Ring Road was closed at 8pm on Friday night for the bridge demolition works and was due to reopen at at 5.30am on Monday, May 17.

Regent Street, Leeds, A64 bridge collapse
Images from the scene have been shared online following the incident

Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirmed to the Daily Star that they had not been called to the scene and that there were no casualties.

West Yorkshire Police also confirmed that police had not been called to the incident.

Workmen at the site told LeedsLive the lorry had simply broken down after the bridge was lifted onto the back of the truck and that it did not collapse.

Leeds City Council also contested the claims and says the concrete section of the demolished bridge was lifted “safely” onto the lorry however there was a “failure of the trailer”.

A statement from the council reads: “Essential work to demolish and rebuild the northern section of Regent Street Flyover is currently ongoing.

“Last night, a concrete section of the demolished bridge was being lifted onto a specialist trailer to be disposed of and recycled away from site.

Regent Street, Leeds, A64 bridge collapse
The bridge collapsed overnight

“It was safely placed onto the heavy load vehicle however there was failure of the trailer, causing the piece of bridge to shift from its resting position.

“It is now being broken up for safe removal and will be cleared from the site by lunchtime today.

“There were no accidents or injuries as a consequence of the trailer system failing and work will continue to demolish the bridge over the coming days.”

Daily Star has contacted West Yorkshire Combined Authority for further information.

The Regent Street Flyover was built in the late 1960s and carries the A64 Inner Ring Road over the A61 Regent Street, and is normally used by 70,000 vehicles per day.

The construction work is expected to take up to two years with completion set for spring 2022.

References

  1. ^ LeedsLive (www.leeds-live.co.uk)

News Desk

Live updates as official statement disputing reports a bridge collapsed released

An official statement has been released by Leeds City Council[1] after reports a section of the Regent Street bridge had collapsed from a crane.

The incident was reported to have happened at Regent Street, Leeds[2], last night and an eyewitness had previously said: “120-tonne section of the A64 bridge replacement has just collapsed on the truck from the crane.”

However, workmen at the site told LeedsLive the lorry had simply broken down after the bridge was lifted onto the back of the truck.

To get the latest email updates from LeedsLive, click here.[3]

The authority has also contested the claims and says the concrete section of the demolished bridge was lifted “safely” onto the lorry however there was a “failure of the trailer.”

References

  1. ^ Leeds City Council (www.leeds-live.co.uk)
  2. ^ Leeds (www.leeds-live.co.uk)
  3. ^ click here (www.leeds-live.co.uk)

News Desk

Huge 120-tonne bridge falls from crane and crushes truck below

Huge 120-tonne bridge slips off back of lorry trailer after being lifted by crane during work on new flyover in Leeds city centre

  • The huge bridge in Leeds was being moved as part of planned demolition work
  • But 120-tonne structure collapsed onto street below after being lifted by crane 
  • Concrete chunk of bridge was ‘safely’ put onto heavy load trailer but came loose
  • Leeds City Council has confirmed there were no injuries during the incident 

By Jacob Thorburn For Mailonline[1]

Published: 09:45, 15 May 2021 | Updated: 11:28, 15 May 2021

A huge 120-tonne bridge slipped off the back of a specialised heavy load vehicle after being lifted by a crane as part of demolition works. 

The incident took place in Regent Street, Leeds as contractors worked on the A64 bridge replacement works that will see a new £31million flyover installed in the city centre. 

A section of the newly demolished bridge managed to destroy a truck below it as concrete chunks were being moved onto the back of a specialised vehicle yesterday evening.  

A piece of the concrete bridge had been ‘safely placed’ onto  heavy load vehicle, but a ‘failure of the trailer’ caused it to move according to Leeds City Council. 

The Regent Street Inner Ring Road had been closed since yesterday evening for ‘bridge demolition works’. 

It is understood the 120-tonne bridge was being moved by crane when it crushed a specialised vehicle on the street below. Pictured: The scene in Regent Street, Leeds last night

It is understood the 120-tonne bridge was being moved by crane when it crushed a specialised vehicle on the street below. Pictured: The scene in Regent Street, Leeds last night

It is understood the 120-tonne bridge was being moved by crane when it crushed a specialised vehicle on the street below. Pictured: The scene in Regent Street, Leeds last night

The Regent Street Inner Ring Road (above) had been closed since yesterday evening for 'bridge demolition works' as part of the city's £31million flyover upgrade project

The Regent Street Inner Ring Road (above) had been closed since yesterday evening for 'bridge demolition works' as part of the city's £31million flyover upgrade project

The Regent Street Inner Ring Road (above) had been closed since yesterday evening for ‘bridge demolition works’ as part of the city’s £31million flyover upgrade project

In a statement posted to Twitter this morning Leeds City Council explained a concrete chunk of the bridge had been 'safely placed onto the heavy load vehicle'

In a statement posted to Twitter this morning Leeds City Council explained a concrete chunk of the bridge had been 'safely placed onto the heavy load vehicle'

In a statement posted to Twitter this morning Leeds City Council explained a concrete chunk of the bridge had been ‘safely placed onto the heavy load vehicle’

An eyewitness explained to LeedsLive[2]: ‘120 tonne section of the A64 bridge replacement has just collapsed on the truck from the crane.’  

The works were due to last the next four weekends, until 5.30am on Monday June 7.

The Inner Ring Road site site was set to reopen on Monday, but pictures from this morning show the area has been fenced off. 

In a statement posted this morning, Leeds City Council said: ‘Essential work to demolish and rebuild the northern section of Regent Street Flyover is currently ongoing. 

‘Last night, a concrete section of the demolished bridge was being lifted onto a specialist trailer to be disposed of and recycled away from site. 

‘It was safely placed onto the heavy load vehicle however there was failure of the trailer, causing the piece of bridge to shift from its resting position.

‘It is now being broken up for safe removal and will be cleared from the site by lunchtime today.’ 

Pictures from this morning show part of Regent Street remains fenced off and debris that has been left in the wake of the incident

Pictures from this morning show part of Regent Street remains fenced off and debris that has been left in the wake of the incident

Pictures from this morning show part of Regent Street remains fenced off and debris that has been left in the wake of the incident

Work on the Leeds Regent Street £31million flyover project began last May and is expected to last two years. Pictured: Part of the 120-tonne structure shown this morning

Work on the Leeds Regent Street £31million flyover project began last May and is expected to last two years. Pictured: Part of the 120-tonne structure shown this morning

Work on the Leeds Regent Street £31million flyover project began last May and is expected to last two years. Pictured: Part of the 120-tonne structure shown this morning

The council has also since confirmed there were no injuries as a result of this incident. 

Work on the Leeds Regent Street flyover project, that is estimated to cost £31million, began last May and is expected to last two years.

As part of the upgrade scheme, the 60-year-old bridge that supports the A64 Inner Ring Road over the A61 Regent Street will need to be demolished.  

Read more:

References

  1. ^ Jacob Thorburn For Mailonline (www.dailymail.co.uk)
  2. ^ LeedsLive (www.leeds-live.co.uk)

News Desk

Leeds council statement on the Regent Street bridge ‘collapse’

Leeds City Council has issued a statement after reports a section of the Regent Street bridge had collapsed from a crane.

The incident was reported to have happened at Regent Street last night and an eyewitness had previously said: “120 tonne section of the A64 bridge replacement has just collapsed on the truck from the crane.”

However, workmen at the site told LeedsLive the lorry had simply broken down after the bridge was lifted onto the back of the truck.

To get the latest email updates from LeedsLive, click here.[1]

The authority[2] has also contested the claims and says the concrete section of the demolished bridge was lifted “safely” onto the lorry however there was a “failure of the trailer”.

A statement from the council reads: “Essential work to demolish and rebuild the northern section of Regent Street Flyover is currently ongoing.

A section of the bridge collapsed in Regent Street
A section of the bridge collapsed in Regent Street (Image: Submitted)

“Last night, a concrete section of the demolished bridge was being lifted onto a specialist trailer to be disposed of and recycled away from site.

“It was safely placed onto the heavy load vehicle however there was failure of the trailer, causing the piece of bridge to shift from its resting position. It is now being broken up for safe removal and will be cleared from the site by lunchtime today.

“There were no accidents or injuries as a consequence of the trailer system failing and work will continue to demolish the bridge over the coming days.”

References

  1. ^ click here (www.leeds-live.co.uk)
  2. ^ authority (www.leeds-live.co.uk)

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