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Mother's concerns after porch on Hawkinge home collapses
15:37, 13 August 2020
updated: 15:58, 13 August 2020
A woman has spoke of the moment she heard an 'almighty bang' as her porch crashed to the ground.
Nikki Emden, 42, was upstairs in her Hawkinge house, near Folkestone, when the brick and wooden structure suddenly fell from above her front door.
WATCH: The aftermath of the fallen porch
There had been no warning signs, no indication it was going to give way prior to the fall, and was seemingly of sound structure beforehand.
Now, Miss Emden, of Woodcock Gardens, is sharing her tale to warn others to check their porches.
She explains: "I was in my bedroom and my son was in his bedroom and we heard an almighty crash.
"I looked out my window to see what it was, thinking something had happened in the street.
"My son said something was wrong with our door but I looked and it seemed fine. It was only when I went back upstairs and looked out the window did I see neighbours staring at our house.
"The porch has completely come away and fallen to the ground. The whole thing has been horrendous.
"I was so shocked.
"What with being home a lot more because of lockdown and tending to the garden, we've been in and out of the front door.
"If my son was under there or I was it could have been a completely different story. It is very worrying."
Miss Emden, mum to Oscar, 11, posted about the crash - which happened on Sunday - on Facebook and a chartered surveyor got in touch with her.
He visited her house and after inspecting the porch told her there had been two issues.
"I was advised the roof collapsed because of two factors," she said. "One was a slight rot to the joint and it was not supported correctly at the top of the frame."
Miss Emden is now concerned that the same could happen to other homes in the area.
She added: "The house was built in the 90s. I moved in 2009.
"As it is a community full of people with children I would hate to think this could happen to someone else.
"I just want as many people as possible to know how dangerous it is so they can check their roofs and make sure they are safe."
Miss Emden's insurance company has already told her it will not pay out for the damage or repairs.
She said she isn't sure she wants the porch fitted back on anyway.
"At the moment I'm happy to leave it, as I'm feeling slightly paranoid," she added.
