Shoddy bricks to blame for house collapse

A TERRACED house collapsed and left two people in hospital due to “poor quality bricks”, investigators have said.

The house in Portsmouth, Hants, crashed to the ground at around 8.30am on Dec 7.

Neighbours of the collapsed home reported hearing “awful cracks” which formed along the walls of their homes in the hours beforehand.

A total of 18 homes on Langford Road were evacuated at the time, with two people – believed to be a woman and her teenage daughter – treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital.

Portsmouth city council has now blamed the damage on the poor quality of the bricks used to build the house.

Ian Maguire, assistant director of regeneration at Portsmouth, said: “The council’s building control team suspect the cause is likely to be the failure of sub-floor walls due to the poor quality of the bricks originally used to build the below-ground-level walls, together with the damp conditions and inadequate foundations.

“The insurance companies will be confirming the cause of the collapse.” A fundraiser for the mother and daughter – who are both said to be recovering – has received £2,900.

Speaking on the day of the incident, Adrian Poole, who lives directly behind the collapsed house, said he saw the teenage girl trapped in the garden and helped her escape using a ladder.

The 40-year-old, who works in film production, said: “She was trapped in her back garden after the collapse.

“I got my ladder and helped her get over a couple of fences so she could get away.

“I think her mum managed to get out of the front door.”