THE roof of a converted house collapsed - causing bricks to come crashing down on top of two cars.

The roof of the building, which sits on the corner of Milton Road and Hampden Road in Grays at the end of a row of terraced housing, entirely fell away on Friday.

An Essex Fire and Rescue spokesperson said crews arrived at the scene and established a cordon, using rescue dog Darcy to check if anyone was trapped inside.

The fire brigade's Urban Search and Rescue unit arrived at the scene at 5.30pm and there were no reported casualties.

The Gazette understands that the shop below, Marbles Manufacturing and Supplies, has been closed for some time.

A first floor flat within the building was recently bought and builders are thought to have been doing work there in the last week or so.

Two cars, a blue MG and a black Alfa Romeo, parked outside the shop have been coated in bricks, rubble and timber.

The incident is thought to have happened shortly before 5pm today.

The building from the back