Fire crews in Essex have helped evacuate a block of flats after a crane collapsed in Saffron Walden

AROUND 40 people have been evacuated from a block of flats after part of a tower crane collapsed.

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The drama unfolded in Allard Way, Saffron Walden, in Essex, just before 4.30pm.

Residents were evacuated by the police to a rest centre, which the local authority has set up in a nearby sports centre.

Fire crews also helped with the evacuation and provided emergency lighting.

Chris Noakes, assistant divisional officer for Essex Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The boom of the crane has collapsed and is hanging by a hawser.

“Crews have assisted in making the area safe which has involved evacuating a block of flats. The residents are being left in the care of the police and local authority.

“The housing estate the crane is in is largely unoccupied, the only place people are actually living on the estate is in the block of flats.

“Luckily no one has been hurt and the local authority has established a nearby rest centre for everyone who has been evacuated.”

It is not yet known what caused the crane to collapse.