Residents can return after partial building collapse

Residents who were evacuated from their homes in Leicester after the partial collapse of a nearby building have been allowed to return.

Police were called to Wharf Street South on 13 July to reports of the collapse of a former factory building, with one person sustaining minor injuries from falling debris.

Leicester City Council said on Wednesday that about 25 residents were able to return to their homes from 12:00 BST after the authority had carried out emergency work.

A council spokesperson said: "This has been a complex operation involving the careful demolition and removal of a significant portion of the former factory that was unsafe, while retaining as much of the building as possible."

"Work has been carried out under Section 78 of the Building Act 1984, which gives local authorities emergency powers to take immediate action to demolish and secure a building where there is an imminent risk to public safety.

"Contractors will remain on site until the end of the week to install hoardings and clear away equipment.

"All expenses incurred during this emergency operation will be recovered from the property owner," the council spokesperson added.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters dealt with the initial collapse, and there was a second collapse involving the roof and other brickwork.

Severn Trent Water confirmed its teams had been called to a "major" internal leak at a disused building in Wharf Street prior to the collapse.

A spokesperson said the company helped shut off the building's water supply and were not on site when the building collapsed.

Wharf Street South remains closed while demolition work is carried out.

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