Partial building collapse in Leicester city centre leaves man with head injury

A man has suffered a head injury after part of a building collapsed in the middle of Leicester city centre.

A police cordon has been set up around one of the city centre's busiest pedestrian areas, after parts of a structure on the busy Church Gate, fell to the floor.

Police, fire and ambulance teams are all at the scene, and the public are being asked to avoid the area for their own safety.

Leicestershire Police said they received reports of an incident on Church Gate near to the junction with Haymarket, at 11.55am today (15th September).They said the injuries on the man who was hurt at the scene, are not thought to be life-threatening or life-changing.A number of nearby buildings have been evacuated as a precaution.They said their officers are assisting colleagues from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, who are leading on the incident at this time.

One eyewitness, J Bowen, said they thought the loud bang they heard this lunchtime was, at first, an explosion.They said 'I live nearby and heard a really loud crashing noise, which I thought might have been a bomb or an explosion going off. I think it's part of the roof that's fallen down on someone.'There's a cordon in place and emergency crews are still here. It's surprising to see something like this happen. You wouldn't expect it.

The damage from the building could be seen at ground level from the busy neighbouring Highcross Shopping Centre.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue teams said:

'We received the call at 11:59 to reports of a building collapse in Church Gate Leicester. We currently have a number of crews on scene including our Technical Rescue Team to make the building safe.

'Crews are trying to establish if any persons are involved. We are asking the public to avoid the area to enable us to do this work'.

Leicestershire Police teams have warned of a number of road closures.