Balcony collapses onto pavement

The balcony collapsed from the listed building onto the street.

Residents have been evacuated from a block of flats in Glasgow after a stone balcony collapsed onto a pavement.

The balcony, which was part of a listed building on Govan Road known locally as the "Potted Heid", fell 25ft.

The area around the block has been cordoned off while Glasgow City Council officials establish if it is safe.

The building, which also accommodates a branch of Lloyds TSB, was built in 1906. The bank has been temporarily closed.

Police and fire crews were called to the incident on Thursday at about 1800 BST after receiving reports of falling masonry.

Resident Victoria Young, one of those evacuated from her home, said the balcony's collapse felt like an "earthquake".

It sounded like an earthquake and I realised the entire balcony outside my window had collapsed Victoria Young Resident

She said: "As far as I knew a small amount of masonry had fallen from the building so I ran up to my flat to check that everything was OK.

"When I got in I heard this horrible crash. It sounded like an earthquake and I realised the entire balcony outside my window had collapsed. For a moment I thought the whole building was going to go.

"The building is famous in Govan, it's a real local landmark and it's so sad that this has happened. The bank has always been operational and this will be the first time that it's been closed as far as I know."

The building is known as the "Potted Heid" because the mottled colouring of its granite facings resemble a Scottish meat dish.

Masonry fell 25ft onto the pavement

Officials from Glasgow City Council's building control department have visited the block to inspect its condition.

A spokesperson for the local authority said they were now in talks with Lloyds TSB for an action plan on how to proceed.

Lloyds TSB Scotland said they hoped the branch would be open again soon.

In a statement they said: "We are awaiting the outcome of the investigation to establish if the building is safe.

"Surveyors have inspected the building and we are awaiting their report."