Collapsed crane forces 62 people from homes

Sixty-two people were forced to spend the night in temporary accommodation after a crane collapsed.

Some have been told they can return to their homes after the 35-metre crane, with a 60-metre jib, was stabilised, having come to rest against a former Primark store in Reading.

But Thames Valley Police warned that it could take days to remove the machine from the scene as engineers travelled from the Netherlands assess the damage.

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 2pm on Saturday and 60 residential properties were evacuated.

Superintendent Robert France said: “We apologise for any inconvenience to residents; however, our main priority is your safety. Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident.