TWO al-fresco diners had a terrifying brush with death when it started raining bricks around their table. They were eating at Il Tocco Da Artista, in Highgate Hill, Archway, at lunchtime last Wednesday when some loose brickwork fell from the roof of the t

TWO al-fresco diners had a terrifying brush with death when it started raining bricks around their table.

They were eating at Il Tocco Da Artista, in Highgate Hill, Archway, at lunchtime last Wednesday when some loose brickwork fell from the roof of the three-storey building - narrowly missing their heads.

Loladana Clatu, a waitress at the cafe, said: "It was in front of our restaurant. Some customers were outside, two ladies - they were very scared. Then the firemen came and closed off the pavement and our shop."

A firefighter from Kentish Town fire station said: "There was some loose brickwork on a party wall that separates two roofs. It fell down onto the pavement, narrowly missing some people who were eating at a cafe. Luckily there were no injuries."

Fabrizio Tolomeo, 33, a restaurateur who was walking past, said "The brickwork just collapsed on top of the cafe, but nothing so bad happened - thank God.