Community unites to clear the road after huge wall collapses in village near Harborough

An entire community immediately banded together to clear a road of hundreds of broken bricks in a village near Market Harborough after a family’s six-foot high garden wall dramatically collapsed.

Big-hearted neighbours reacted on the spot and dashed to help after the 60-feet long wall suddenly fell apart on School Lane, Lubenham, at about 2.30pm on Monday afternoon.

Bill Johnston, 81, who lives opposite, said: “I was sitting in my living room when I heard this almighty crash.

“I went to the window and looked out to see that a garden wall, at least 20 metres long, had collapsed in to the road over the way just a few feet away.

“It was quite scary and just came out of the blue.

“I’m not sure what caused it – it just tumbled over.”

The retired teacher, who’s lived there for 45 years, added: “Very quickly about 15-16 people descended from up and down School Lane and possibly beyond here in Lubenham to help clear the scene.

“The public response was magnificent.

“There was even a little boy, maybe as young as six, who got involved – it was heartwarming to see.

“And it was all totally spontaneous.

“Nobody went knocking on doors asking for help.

“Neighbours and residents just came out and got stuck in, it was incredible,” said Bill, who took this amazing picture of the chaos from his house.

“I went out there too and we must have picked up hundreds of bricks blocking the road.

“It took us a good while to collect them all and pile them all up by where the wall had stood.

“The lady who lives there called the police as well and they turned up.

“It was a devastating incident.

“The wall must have been over 6 feet tall – and it shattered into a whole load of bricks!

“But the reaction of local people has been brilliant.

“We have a fantastic close-knit community spirit here in Lubenham and I’m very proud of all the people who have gone out there and helped to clear up the mess and get our road reopened again.”