The injured pair, both in their 50s, were taken to hospital after the pole fell from a building site in Eldon Street this morning.

City of London Police said: “A man has been arrested after two women suffered serious head injuries in Eldon Street. The two were injured after an object fell on them.”

The man has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

It is believed the injured women were walking on the opposite side of the road from the nearest scaffold clad building.

Witness Michael Jarman told the Evening Standard:”The two ladies on the floor seemed to be in a lot of pain.

“There was a fair bit of metal all around them that from what looked like it had fallen from the scaffolding above.

“There were a lot of people at the scene attending to the two ladies. One lady was sitting up right with a lot of blood around her face while the other lady was lying on the ground. She seemed in a lot of pain.

“Ambulance and police were quick to the scene but I had to leave, made my stomach turn.

“It was mayhem.”