A CANVEY couple were shocked to find a hole in their roof after bricks from a building site crashed down onto their home in the latest of a series of incidents.

Breeze blocks from a home being built in Central Wall Road Canvey came toppling down onto a neighbouring bungalow yesterday.

The bricks crashed onto the roof, leaving a gaping hole.

Police taped off the area while repairs were carried out.

The victim of the damage, who did not want to be named, said: “Our roof was damaged from bricks falling onto it. They have since fixed it.”

Residents say it the latest in a long line of problems with the site which has seen the Health and Safety Executive temporarily halt work there on more than one occasion.

Another neighbour, who also asked not to be named, said: “There has been aggravation for over a year now. Things keep happening and going wrong.

“The council don’t want to get involved and told me to contact the Health and Safety Executive, which I have done. It closed the works down about two months ago and served them with prohibition notices as they were not following regulations. They have since fixed all the issues including the scaffolding which wasn’t to standard.”

The resident added: “The workmen weren’t wearing any protective gear before we contacted the Health and Safety Executive.

“They were even burning their rubbish. It has just been one thing after another - bricks falling down, fences being broken.

“Last Sunday a brick fell onto my drive.

“I rang the Health and Safety Executive again yesterday morning after my neighbour’s roof was damaged from the workmen’s bricks falling through it.

“With bricks and things flying about, it worries us. It’s not good enough.

“If those bricks had of hit one of us, it could have caused serious injury.”

A self-employed builder on the site, employed through LNC Refurbishments said: “The brickwork we did came down because of the wind, it could have happened to anyone. The HSE came months ago after we were served with a prohibition notice due to a problem with the scaffolding that did not belong to us.

“The prohibition noticed was then lifted and building work has been resumed. Everything is safe. We have regular safety checks carried out, the last one was carried out last Tuesday. We hope the work will be finished within the next five weeks.”

A Health and Safety Executive spokesman said: “We are aware of the incident and are investigating.”

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed the incident and said: “The building was potentially unsafe and concerns were raised regarding the structure of the building. Officers attended the scene and cordoned off the area at 11.50 am. We are in contact with both parties.”