Emergency services at the scene of a scaffolding collapse in Sittingbourne

A safety probe is under way today after a man died when scaffolding collapsed in the garden of a house.

Kent Police have referred the case to the Health and Safety Executive following the death of a man in his 50s in Sittingbourne.

The victim is believed to have been painting the side of a house in Chalkway Road when the structure gave way yesterday.

An HSE inspector has already visited the site and inquiries will continue.

The man suffered serious head injuries in the accident at a semi-detached house at just after 11am, but was pronounced dead at the scene.

An air ambulance landed in Milton Recreation Ground, off Vicarage Road, with the team making their way to the property on foot.

Despite medics' best efforts, the man could not be revived.

The road was closed by police until around 3pm. Fire crews were also at the scene - removing scaffolding to allow paramedics to treat the man.

Witness Stuart Somers said the collapse happened at a house next to the yard of Hubbard and Houghton Construction.

Speaking from the scene, he said: "You can see the scaffolding tower that's collapsed. You can see the top of it at a jaunty angle underneath the side wall of the house.

"There's fresh paint at the apex of the roof. It looks as though the man has been painting the top of the house and for some reason the scaffolding tower has collapsed.

"I saw some completely distraught people on the pavement nearby in an absolute state of bewilderment and crying their eyes out. They were being consoled by the police."

Police block Chalkwell Road after a man died in a scaffolding collapse