Clean-up after building collapses

Road closures have been implemented in the area

A derelict office building has partially collapsed, causing disruption to pedestrians and motorists.

The building in the Merchant City area collapsed at about 0100 BST on Friday.

No-one was injured and work has begun to clear the Candleriggs area of debris.

Police said several roads had been closed to assist with the clear-up operation but there were no suspicious circumstances.

It is fortunate that no one was in the area at the time

Police spokeswoman

The building was used as offices of the former Goldbergs store in an area of the city which is undergoing regeneration.

Police said disruption was likely to continue over the weekend.

A spokeswoman said: "Candleriggs between Trongate and Ingram Street will be closed all weekend.

"Traffic is being diverted north of Albion Street onto Ingram Street."

'Remove the rubble'

Rubble from the 30ft-high building spilled onto the road following the partial collapse.

"It is fortunate that no one was in the area at the time," the spokeswoman said.

David Griffin, of Griffin Webster surveyors, told BBC News Online that the listed building had simply come to "the end of its tether".

"There has been plans in place to give the listed, unoccupied building to a stone contractor, and to then erect flats in the Candleriggs area as part of the Merchant Village programme," Mr Griffin said.

"Unfortunately, time has beaten us to it. However, this incident will speed, rather than slow down the regeneration process and the Merchant Village prorgamme.

"Machinery has been erected at the site and on Saturday morning the process of removing the rubble will begin.

"The precinct should be back to normal by Sunday."