A person has died after a crane collapsed into houses in Bow, East London, earlier today (July 8).

Images circulating on social media showed entire sections of a terraced house caved in by the fallen crane, with a heavy emergency services presence in the residential area in Bow where the collapse happened.

London Ambulance Service (LAS) said crews treated four people and confirmed one death.

A spokeswoman for LAS said: "We treated four people at the scene. We treated two of these patients for head injuries and took them to hospital and we assessed the other two patients at the scene.

"Sadly, despite the efforts of emergency services, a fifth person was found and died at the scene."

Before the death was confirmed, London Fire Brigade (LFB)'s assistant commissioner Graham Ellis had described how LFB's "urban search and rescue crews are undertaking a complex rescue operation and using specialist equipment to search the properties.

"There are reports of at least one person that may be missing and unaccounted for in the houses."

The crane that collapsed was being used by Swan Housing Association and NU living.

A spokeswoman for Swan Housing Association and NU living said: "Swan Housing Association/NU living is deeply saddened by an incident that has occurred at our Watts Grove development site this afternoon.

"Our thoughts are with those affected and their families at this difficult time.

"We would like to thank the emergency services for their swift and dedicated response and those who are supporting residents who have had to leave their homes as a safety precaution.

"Our staff are on site to provide support to the emergency response and the investigation."