It was a dream home expected to fetch £1 million. But disaster struck as a crane was helping with finishing touches yesterday. The 40m (131ft) machine teetered and fell on the building at Broadstairs, Kent.

The roof of the building was severely damaged as was one of the external walls. Neighbours compared the noise of the crash to a bomb going off.

Thomas Hindmarsh, 70, a retired RAF serviceman who lives in the same road as the house, said the walls of his home shook when the crane fell.

“It was an unbelievable noise, like an explosion,” he said. “My house was given a right old shake. They are building luxury flats and houses on the site. It’s lucky no one was hurt. I can’t wait to see the size of crane they get to shift this one.”

The machine is owned by Bedingfield Lifting, a Canterbury-based firm whose motto is: “No mission impossible.” Tony Bedingfield, its owner, said that the crane had been clearing a container from the site. The “unfortunate incident” would cost about £40,000. “We are carrying out our investigations at the moment,” he said. “We are trying to put plans together to recover the vehicle. It is still leaning on the building.” Two larger cranes, weighing 120 tonnes and 160 tonnes, had been sent to shift the vehicle. Lilybrooks, the developer that owns the home, was not available for comment.

A Kent Police spokesman said: “The crane was lifting something over the house that was obviously heavier than it.”

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