A Brighton road could be closed overnight after a Tesco van clipped scaffolding, bringing poles down on its roof.
The incident in Southover Street happened at about 7.30pm this evening after the van pulled over towards the scaffolding to let another vehicle pass.
Its wing mirror caught one of the poles, pulling others down and leaving the structure unsafe.
The van driver, Paula Kinsella, said: “I pulled over to let a taxi come through and I stopped because I heard the sound of broken glass, which turned out to be the scaffolding coming down.
“I had only hit it with my wing mirror. I told my boss, my small mistake has turned into a big boo boo.
“The firefighters are hoping to shore it up, free the van and make it safe but the possibility has been discussed of leaving it overnight.”
Matt Lloyd, station manager for Hove and Roedean, said at about 8.30pm: “We were called out at about 7.30pm to reports a lorry had gone into scaffolding.
“Because of the angle the scaffolding is now at, we have put in a support at the top. It also bowed in at the bottom, and one strut has come off the pavement, and we have secured that.
“Our concern is that when we move the van, the scaffolding could fall down. Our city pumps have now left the scene, and the specialist technical unit from Lewes is here.
“The scaffolding company has been called, and they’re going to take about an hour to get here, then we are going to take it down under control using the aerial ladder.”
The scaffolding, which was erected by Lewes Scaffolding Company, is being used by builders working on the roof of the house, which was empty when the accident happened.
If the wing mirror clipped the scaffolding to cause it to fall down sounds like the scaffolders didn’t do a good putting it up!!!