A WORKER broke his collarbone when he fell from scaffolding in the city on Tuesday morning.

The decorator, who was in his 50s and from Sparsholt, plunged six feet from the top of the structure to the next level down, while preparing to paint the front of the building that houses Rawlings Opticians in Winchester High Street.

He lost his footing and crashed to a halt outside the window of Intuition Design on the third floor.

Ambulance crews arrived in minutes and treated the man, who also had a gash to the head, at the scene.

Police were also called and the Health and Safety Executive is now investigating the accident.

Two employers from Intuition Design, on the third floor of the building, saw the man fall and called the emergency services.

Ben Reynolds and boss Simon Harmer saw the decorator land outside their window.

Mr Reynolds said: "The guy fell from above us and landed outside our front window and I called the ambulance.

"Simon climbed out to help him and stayed with him until the paramedics came. The emergency services were excellent."

Mr Harmer said: "We saw him fall and hit the boards. We both thought he was going to get up again, but we could see he was in pain.

"I opened the window and climbed out to help him and stay with him.

"I think he stepped back and forgot a hole was there. I hate heights so I was sitting out there a bit worried, but we're just glad he's okay."

A spokesman for Hampshire Police said: "There was an industrial accident at around 11.45am on Tuesday morning.

"We were called by the ambulance service, and a middle-aged man was taken to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital with significant injuries that are not thought to be life threatening.

"The health and safety executive have been informed, as have Winchester City Council."