The owners of an iconic property in Lincoln got a bit of a shock when they found a Royal Man delivery van balancing on two wheels on their driveway.

The driver of the van was doing a delivery round on Michaelgate, one of the steepest streets in the city, when a problem with the handbrake became apparent.

The van rolled backwards down the street, crashing through the fencing that surrounded the property, veering off the side of the garden wall and crashing into the Vauxhall Astra parked outside.

An eye-witness at the incident said: “I was driving up Hungate when I saw a Royal Mail van reversing at a gradual speed.

“Then it suddenly mounted the curb, crashed through the metal barrier and fell off the wall onto the car.

“My first concern was for the driver, but then I realised there wasn’t one!”

There were no injuries at the scene, although damage to both vehicles and the surrounding landscaping was reported.

The property, dubbed the Strelizia, is a building near Lincoln Cathedral and famed for its futuristic appearance. Its shape is inspired by a Bird of Paradise Plant.