A Shropshire man came upon a scene of destruction today seconds after a cement mixer smashed into a telegraph pole before ploughing into his 300-year-old cottage and flipping over.

The Old Smithy House at Longdon on Tern, Telford, was severely damaged in the crash which happened on the B5063 Cotwall Road, not far from the Tayleur Arms pub, at about 10.45am.

Owner of the cottage, Douglas Buttery, was on a bus travelling a short distance behind the mixer and arrived home just seconds after the smash.

The 67-year-old, who was returning from a shopping trip, said: “I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing to be honest.

“I was on the bus and the first thing I noticed was that the electricity pole had been knocked down as it has been so many times before from accidents.

“Then I looked around and saw a big gaping hole in the front of my house.

“It was unbelievable and heartbreaking because the house has been such an important part of my family for so many years.

“I haven’t been allowed back in yet so I don’t know how bad the damage is but I’m hoping it’s just to the front and that it can be repaired and sorted out.”

Wet cement was left strewn around the area and the road was sealed off while firefighters and police secured the area. The road was expected to be closed well into the afternoon.

Electricity board engineers were on site to isolate the electricity supply and structural engineers were called in to assess the damage to the cottage.

An ambulance was sent to the scene but the driver of the mixer, a man in his 40s, was unhurt.

Eye witness Dave Johnson described the drama as like something out of a film.

He said: “The cement mixer was coming down the road fully loaded and lost control as it approached the minor bend and clipped and knocked over an electricity telegraph pole.

“Then it hit the front of the Old Smithy House and there’s now a hole in the front wall. That part of the house is unsafe. The mixer then rolled over and cement is all over the road.”

Chris Ammonds, a Telford police spokesman, said the road was closed off while investigations were being carried out at the scene.

He added: “We are trying to establish what has caused the crash.”