A MAN was lucky to escape uninjured when scaffolding fell on his van as he drove along a busy Darlington road.

The structure came crashing down in the wind, severely damaging the vehicle and a second van parked outside a shop in Bondgate.

Darlington Borough Council's building control team was called out to remove the collapsed framework, which was erected by Jade's Scaffolding Limited, in Middlesbrough, and is investigating the incident.

A council spokesman said: "If any legal action is taken then it would be done by the Health and Safety Executive, in Newcastle."

The temporary structure was put up outside the former Wright's Office Supplies building, which is now owned by Mortgage Service Centres and is being renovated.

Sergeant Anthony McDougall, of Darlington police, said officers were on the scene immediately after the structure fell down, at 11.15am.

"It hit a Ford van travelling along Bondgate. The male driver was uninjured but badly shaken. He was very lucky," he said.

"It caused damage to the vehicle's roof, rear doors and front windscreen. It also damaged the roof and windscreen of a larger van parked outside the shop."

Police spoke to the driver and regulated traffic flow until the scaffolding was removed.

Mortgage Service Centres declined to comment and Jade's Scaffolding Limited was unavailable.