This house, left exposed like a "doll's house", would easily be at home in war-torn Beirut, but is actually the result of a "dangerous" building disaster in Southfields.

Nosy neighbours were given more than the usual glimpse into how the other half lived when the recently altered two-storey rear extension to the house, on the corner of Wimbledon Park Road and Pulborough Road in south-west London, came crashing down.

No-one was hurt when the wall collapsed just before 6pm on August 16.

Within minutes, firefighters, police and council building experts were on the scene to prevent the rest of the building falling in.

Rosie Gray, 25, of Wimbledon Park Road said: "Everyone gathered around looking. It was extraordinary."

She added: "The whole back of the house had collapsed and the garden was full of rubble. It looked like a warzone.

"You could see in all the back rooms, just like a dolls house."

Fearing the rest of the three-storey family home might give way at any time, police cordoned off the road until Wandsworth Council building officers had made the site safe.

Principal building control officer Robert Foulger said: "The building was in a pretty precarious state. It could have gone at any time.

"We had to work against the clock, in dangerous conditions, to get some emergency supports in to prop up the upper floors and the rest of the brickwork, which took us about four hours, but fortunately we managed to catch it in time.

"We are now investigating what exactly happened to the extension and why it collapsed.

"It was definitely very lucky that the builders who were working at the house had left shortly before the collapse and that no passers-by were injured."

You can report a dangerous building or structure to the council at any time of the day or night.

During office hours call 020 8871 7620 or at all other times call 020 8871 6000.