A County Down resident has been left outraged after a developer demolished the house next to her without warning at the weekend.

The incident has prompted a local assemblyman to seek immediate intervention by the planning service.

Caroline Richman, who lives on the Newcastle coastline, said she awoke early on Sunday morning to the sound of banging and crashing. On further inspection the mother of four discovered that a mechanical 'grabber' was flattening the house adjoined to her own.

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"I thought it was an earthquake of some kind or a bomb had gone off," she told the Irish News.

Ms Richman said she went outside to find huge lumps of brick and mortar falling to the ground.

She evacuated her young family - including a six month old baby - to the back of her property.

"The walls of our own home were shaking violently and we were worried that they were going to come in around us," said Ms Richman, who described the scene like something from the 'blitz'.

Local MLA Jim Wells said the actions by the developer had left him "livid".

"I am absolutely livid that this house has been demolished when it is designated as an Area of Townscape Character," he said.

The DUP man said he would be seeking an urgent meeting with planners today, to ask how the demolition was approved.

"I will be screaming about this from the rooftops until I know that something is going to be done," he added.

(PR/JM)