A toddler had a lucky escape when a scaffolding pole crashed through the roof of her bedroom and landed where her cot normally sits.

One-year-old Robyn’s cot was moved just days before the steel pole came flying through the ceiling in the middle of Storm Gertrude.

The Clydebank Post reports that her family was evacuated from their home at Hillend Crescent, Duntocher, by the emergency services after scaffolding collapsed.

West Dunbartonshire Council is now investigating the incident.

Glasgow Times:

Mum Lisa Speirs was in bed when she heard a loud crash from the bedroom shared by Casey, eight, and Robyn, one, at around 6am on Friday.

She told the Post: “I heard a bang and I ran through. I thought the cot might have toppled over. My other daughter was screaming. The pole was right through the ceiling and the scaffolding was against the house. I tried to call the emergency number for West Dunbartonshire Council but couldn’t get an answer. I ended up having to call the police because I didn’t know who else to phone because it was unsafe. Firemen evacuated us because it was unsafe.

“I’d just moved Robyn’s cot days ago and that’s what I’m so grateful for. Where it came through – that’s where she was until a few days ago. I’m just thankful everyone was safe.

“When I phoned the scaffolding company they were quite dismissive and just said ‘these things happen’. That’s what I’m angry about.”

Glasgow Times:

Lisa’s partner Nicholas Callan, a builder and roofer, believes the scaffolding erected by Kilsyth firm Clyde Scaffolding should not have been put up in the face of the storm.

He said: “The whole country was on alert for the storm, I don’t know why they still stuck it up.”

West Dunbartonshire Council has contracted Clyde Scaffolding to carry out roof repair works on homes opposite.

Firefighters evacuated the homes of both Lisa and her family at number 31 and her downstairs neighbours at number 29 on Friday.

The area was cordoned off by police and local authority building control was contacted to ensure the property was stable.

Lisa said she went to the One Stop Shop that morning to find out if her home was safe enough to return to but there was no housing officer to speak to and she was told twice that one would be in touch. She didn’t hear anything and eventually contacted them at 4pm.

She said: “If I hadn’t called would housing have left me with no accommodation over weekend? I just think it’s an absolute disgrace. I would like to thank police and fire brigade who attended. They were the only people who asked if my kids and I were okay.”

Glasgow Times:

Lisa complained to the council and Clyde Scaffolding about the incident.

A council spokeswoman said: “We are sorry to hear of this incident which occurred in extreme weather when the area experienced winds of up to 70mph.

“We attended the site as soon as the incident was reported. The contractor removed the scaffolding on Friday morning and our housing repairs team completed temporary repairs to the roof. Permanent repairs will be carried out as soon as the weather allows.

“Our officers are fully investigating to establish the facts and we will review the matter once we have all the information.”

Clyde Scaffolding director Ewan Bisset said staff were at the site along with the council to dismantle the scaffolding and make the area safe as soon possible.

He said: “The scaffolding was fine. It was 100mph winds out there. You’ve got to take that into consideration.

“We built the scaffold to the current regulations and the way it’s meant to be built. It was the weather that caused it.”

The storm also caused scaffolding on a development at Lenzie in East Dunbartonshire to collapse.