PASSERS-BY narrowly avoided being hit by falling debris in Malmesbury on Sunday.

Guttering and stone slates fell from a flat roof above Blount and Maslin estate agents on the High Street around 4pm.

Only minutes before the incident, passers-by were peeking through the estate agents window.

Alan Nixon lives above the estate agents in his flat, and heard the whole thing.

"I was sitting upstairs when I heard a large crash," Alan said.

"I looked out the window and there was a large wooden beam below the guttering from the roof that had fell down.

"The wire of my aerial was the only thing that stopped it hitting the floor, but it left it perched above the pavement.

"It was lucky it was a Sunday and no one was there at the time, especially as there was a couple there minutes before.

"The fire brigade came and helped lower it down to safety.

A Spokeswoman for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Fire services were called out to the incident on Sunday at 3.53pm.

"One crew from Chippenham attended the scene.

"They found that part of the guttering and some stone slates had fell.

"A ladder was used to help lower the guttering down.

"The High Street was closed during the removal for health and safety reasons.

"The incident was all cleared by 4.40pm."