With his crane crashing, man's plan to propose ends in a disaster

London: A Dutchman's dramatic plan to propose to his girlfriend has ended in a major disaster with a mobile crane smashing the roof of a house and forcing the evacuation of people from two others.

The man had wanted to surprise his partner by descending in front of her bedroom in the town of IJsselstein to sing her a song and pop the question.

But the unsecured crane he used instead toppled into a neighbour's house.

The woman still said yes, Dutch media report, and the couple are now said to be celebrating in Paris. Following the initial impact, more damage was done when the crane fell again during an attempt to right it, a news channel reported.

Residents in nearby properties were evacuated but no one was injured.