A MOTHER has spoken of her shock after a crane smashed into the side of her next door neighbour's house.

Earlier this morning a large crane driving in Main Street, Flookburgh, careered into the side of a two-storey house.

Kelly Darwick, 39, said she was at home with her twin eight-year-old boys when she heard a rumbling noise.

She said: "I was going up the stairs at the time, there was a big rumbling noise and then a bang. It was a massive bang. Because of the earthquake we had a few years ago I thought it was another one.

"I ran back downstairs and looked out the window. I knew something had happened."

At the time Mrs Darwick's two sons, Ellis and Reuben, were in the living room playing. She rushed to them to make sure they were OK.

She said: "They were jumping around, they were shouting 'something's happened mummy'. I went running outside and saw what was going on."

The crane had smashed into the side of the house, breaking off a huge chunk of the stone wall.

Mrs Darwick described the crane as having come "rolling down the hill".

In the aftermath, police and fire crews were quick to respond, trying to make the building safe.

Mrs Darwick's husband and another neighbour, who are both builders, came to help shore up the house.

She said: "My husband is in the building trade and was helping to dismantle the damaged section.

"Everyone has been really wonderful and helpful."

It is understood that Main Street, which was temporarily closed, has now reopened. Caution is advised for motorists travelling through the area.

A representative from Duddon Hire and Haulage, whose crane it was, said they had no comment at this time, but it was confirmed the driver of the crane was unharmed.

Read about the 2009 earthquake which was the largest in Cumbria in 174 years.