Worst nightmare! Horrific moment £475,000 home is reduced to rubble in seconds
THIS is the dramatic moment a home worth nearly half a million pounds was torn in half and reduced to rubble - just weeks after builders moved in.
These images show the entire side of the large detached home, including the garage, living room and two bedrooms in ruins after it caved in.
Firemen and police rushed to the £475,000 home, in Kings Norton, Birmingham, which was luckily empty at the time of collapse.
No one was injured and the ground below the home is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive.
Neighbours were warned to stay away from the building as fears grew the rest could fall.
Michael Kennedy, 68, who heard the crash and rushed to see what had happened said: "I was sat in my home when suddenly there was this loud crash from outside.
"All was silent for a second or so and the this massive cloud of dust just floated past the window.
"We went outside and there we saw that the house three doors down had partially fallen in.
"After that we had fire crews and police arrive and I believe later the health and safety executive will be here to see what is going on.
"I do know they have told the next door neighbours not to stay in their homes overnight so I guess they must be worried about subsidence.
"I do know that home was having some work done over the weekend, including some demolition work, taking out walls, but we would just be speculating.
"We've never had trouble with the ground here before, but I do know there was work going on."
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, added: "It was like the world was ending.
"There was a huge crash and a rumble and then the cloud of dust coated everywhere.
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the mess, that was a really nice part of the house and it's just gone.
"I'm so glad no one was hurt."
It is understood the property changed hands a few weeks ago and is not currently occupied.
Renovation work had begun and it is understood a family had bought the property from an elderly couple, with the intention of doing it up.
The family who had bought the house, along with their builders, were called to the scene after the drama.
One of the family members said: "I am just relieved that no one was inside at the time.
"We've now got to wait for the building inspector to come. I don't want to say any more until they've been."
