A man feared "someone could have died" after hundreds of bricks fell onto a pathway.

A wall collapsed in Fidler Place, Bushey, on Friday afternoon. It left a well-used footpath covered in rubble and completely blocked.

Fortunately, no one was passing by when the wall collapsed at around 4pm.

Fidler Place resident Raymond Marskell, 48, said his wife heard a “horrendous crash” last Friday at 4pm that “shook their house”.

Watford Observer:

The collapsed wall

He has in the past raised concerns about the safety of the wall and after Friday's incident, he has hit out at Hertfordshire County Council.

He said: "This wall has concerned both my neighbours and myself for many years now and it has been reported to the local authority.

"It was leaning towards the footpath and it was a real risk.

"Thankfully, nobody was on the footpath when it finally collapsed as I have no doubt this would have resulted in death or serious injury."

Pictured is the wall before it collapsed. Photo: Google Street View

An email dated September 2014 - and seen by the Observer - shows that the county council were made aware by Hertsmere Borough Council of the "cracked" wall in Fidler Place, which was "leaning over the footpath" and in a condition which will need "stabilizing as soon as possible".

The borough council had been made aware of the wall by then Hertsmere MP James Clappison, who had been approached by Mr Marskell.

The wall, which acts as a barrier between car parking spaces and the footpath, was reportedly inspected two years ago and Mr Marskell was assured the wall was "structurally safe".

Watford Observer:

After the collapse on Friday, council workers visited Fidler Place to secure the site and the path was cordoned off.

A Hertfordshire County Council spokeswoman said: "We are aware of what happened on Friday and our contractors have been out on site to make the area safe. We are now arranging for the bricks to be removed and an assessment will then be carried out to determine next steps."