Top of London building collapses

     

Building collapse in central London


Part of a five-storey building has collapsed just 100 yards from New Scotland Yard in central London.

 
The emergency services were called to Dean Farrar Street in Westminster at 1604 BST on Tuesday.

 
A London Fire Service spokesman said the top two floors of the building had collapsed and one person was being treated in hospital for minor injuries.

 
The building houses the campaign office of Labour deputy leadership contender Hazel Blears.

 
Six fire engines, 50 firefighters and two urban search and rescue vehicles are at the scene.

 
Eyewitness Barshan Ganwari said he heard a "huge noise" or "a blast" and saw "people running away" from the scene.

 
Justin Linger was working in the building at the time of the collapse.

 
"I was just sitting in the office when all of a sudden the whole building shook," he told BBC News 24.

 
"As one of my colleagues put it, the building disco danced."

 

    
Last Updated: Tuesday, 12 June 2007, 15:51 GMT 16:51 UK
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Top of London building collapses
Building collapse in central London
The top floors of the building were undergoing renovation
Part of a five-storey building has collapsed just 100 yards from New Scotland Yard in central London.
 
The emergency services were called to Dean Farrar Street in Westminster at 1604 BST on Tuesday.
 
A London Fire Service spokesman said the top two floors of the building had collapsed and one person was being treated in hospital for minor injuries.
 
The building houses the campaign office of Labour deputy leadership contender Hazel Blears.
 
Six fire engines, 50 firefighters and two urban search and rescue vehicles are at the scene.
 
Eyewitness Barshan Ganwari said he heard a "huge noise" or "a blast" and saw "people running away" from the scene.
 
Justin Linger was working in the building at the time of the collapse.
 
"I was just sitting in the office when all of a sudden the whole building shook," he told BBC News 24.
 
"As one of my colleagues put it, the building disco danced."
 
He said the floors affected were undergoing renovation