A MAN was knocked out cold after a ceiling collapsed on his head just after he got home from work.

The tenant had just returned to the house in Heygate Avenue, Southend, when the accident happened.

Firefighters and an ambulance were called and the man, thought to be in his thirties, was taken to Southend General Hospital complaining of neck pain.

Neighbour Stephen Smith said: "I heard a massive bang so I went running round to his room and he was lying there with the ceiling on top of him.

"He was knocked unconscious for about two minutes before coming round. I called the emergency services.

"His room's a right mess, with cables and wires coming through the hole in the roof."

Firefighters from Southend Fire Station were called to the scene at about 7.30pm today (Wednesday) and made the scene safe.