Police have reopened Briary Lane in Royston this afternoon, after it was closed to allow the fire service to attend to a cracked chimney at risk of collapse.

The fire service were called at 9.12am to a report that a cracked chimney stack could fall through the roof of the home in Briary Lane.

Fire crews from Royston, Hitchin, Stevenage attended, as did the aerial ladder platform from Stevenage and the incident support unit.

A structural stabilisation operation began, with the stack held up by aerial ladder platform.

Royston Crow: Police closed Briary Lane in Royston. Picture: Don ShewanPolice closed Briary Lane in Royston. Picture: Don Shewan (Image: Archant)

The occupant was evacuated for their own safety, and road closures were put in place in Briary Lane by police.

At around 1.40pm, firefighters were taking the chimney down brick by brick, and the incident was over at 3.47pm.

The road closure has been lifted, a police spokeswoman has confirmed.