A MAN's dream of having a giant hot tub in his back garden turned into a nightmare when the crane delivering it toppled and sliced the top of his house in two.

Emergency services had to evacuate 20 surrounding houses when a gas main was severed as the 120 tonne crane sank into the ground.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service Acting Station Officer Jeff Foster said: "An emergency was sparked in Coniston Street in the Fulwell area of Sunderland, at about lunchtime.

"The owner of the house, was not at home at the time.

"He was having an outside Jacuzzi - one which fits ten people - delivered to his house.

"A crane which was being used to lift it to the back yard sank half-a-metre into the ground and the boom fell and sliced the first floor of the house in half. It came to rest on the bedroom floor. The adjoining semi-detached house was slightly damaged.

"Thankfully, no one was hurt."

Two women were said to be badly shaken.

Mr Foster said the first major concern was the danger caused by a gas leak and a total of 20 houses had to be evacuated.

He said that initially there was concern that rubble may have fallen on to the adjoining Metro line, but that was unfounded.

But it was not all bad news. Although the Jacuzzi flattened the rabbit hutch when the crane fell, firefighters were able to rescue the rabbit and guinea pig.

Mr Foster said it would take two cranes to remove the machine. The clear up operation is expected to begin at 7.30am this morning.