Two men died yesterday when balcony railings gave way as they carried a sofa into a home in London.

The two people, believed to be removal men, died while they were carrying furniture into the premises. One man was pronounced dead at the scene. A second man was taken to a central London hospital in a critical condition where he later died. Both men are believed to be of Polish origin, Metropolitan Police said.

A police spokesman said: “At this early stage it is believed that a number of sofas were being delivered to the address – which was under renovation – prior to the railings on the balcony giving way.”

At least six others were injured in the incident shortly before 10am. All eight are believed to be removal men.

Raj Ramanoop, who lives in the square, said he was alerted by a friend in a nearby embassy who initially told him scaffolding had come down.

A woman saw two victims lying prone in the road on her way back from the hairdresser, her son said. Vera Skeete said his mother Theresa Roberts was left in shock by what she saw at around 10.30am.

Skeete said: “Mum was walking past and she saw them lying on the floor. They were not even covered up. It gave her a heart attack.”