The victim was apparently walking past a building site in Mile End, East London, when pallet of bricks fell on her. Bystanders could be seen giving her first aid before paramedics drove her to hospital with severe injuries.

Aladdin Rahman, a witness, said:

"My friend who's a bus driver and was driving a bus at the time it happened, said that some bricks had fallen on the woman."

"Several people were trying to get to the lady and so were the construction workers. It was a hectic scene at the time."

Construction director of Higgins Homes, Steve Boreham, said:

"Our primary thoughts and concerns are with the lady who has been injured and those affected today."

"We are working with the Health and Safety Executive who are investigating the incident to determine the cause and will release more information as soon as it's available. Our priority at the moment is of course to make the area safe."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said:

"Police in Tower Hamlets are dealing after a woman was injured by falling debris."

"Officers were called at 9.38am. A woman has apparently been struck by debris falling from a building site crane."