Scaffolding collapses in Swindon town centre

Part of Swindon town centre has been closed off after scaffolding collapsed on one of the main pedestrian shopping streets.

The scaffolding was outside the BHS building on The Parade and came to rest against a lamppost.

Parts of The Parade, Regent Street and Bridge Street have now been cordoned off and some shops have closed.

Nobody was injured but Wiltshire Police have urged people not to go into the centre of Swindon unnecessarily.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were assessing the damage and how to make the structure safe, but did did not know how long that would take.

Holly Raff, assistant manager at the nearby Monsoon store, said: "We thought we heard the sound of something falling, but we've got so used to the sound of drilling that we ignored it.

"Then we looked outside the window and we saw a load of bricks. It's the Easter holiday - this is affecting our business."

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said it closed the streets as a precaution and that the Health and Safety Executive was investigating the incident.