Huge plume of dust covers parts of city

Members of the public have complained of being covered in a cloud of dust that left them breathing heavily and their eyes and noses streaming.

The plume was produced when the remains of a multi-storey car park at Norwich's Anglia Square fell down as workers cleared the 1960s shopping complex on Thursday.

Passers-by walking along Magdalen Street said it erupted suddenly and traders were forced to shut their doors to prevent the dust coming inside.

Norwich City Council insists any asbestos detected in the buildings has been removed and blamed "blustery conditions" for exacerbating the issue.

Jimmy Mavroudis, a programme leader at the nearby Access Creative College, caught the moment the dust cloud was released on video on Thursday afternoon.

He said: "It happened without any warning. I feel sorry for the poor people right in the middle of it.

"I thought there should have been some warning or temporary road closure. But maybe the demolition team did not know it was all going to come down at once."

The 54-year-old said he woke up the next day with a heavy feeling in his chest and that he has also had messages from other teachers and students at the college complaining of similar issues.

Leroy Barrett, owner of Mercury Communications, was serving a customer when they heard loud rumbling from the site.

"The rumbling did not stop and when we looked up there was a giant plume of dust.

"I had to shut... It was untenable. My nose and eyes were streaming."

Barrett spent Friday morning cleaning the dust in his shop.

Roys of Magdalen Street said it shut for 30 minutes "as a precaution to ensure the safety of our team members, customers and to protect our stock" and reopened after the dust had cleared.

Lisa Mann, who runs a unit called All Planet Kind, said: "All of a sudden it seemed really dusty. I covered my mouth and held my breath as I ran round here and closed the door quickly.

Paul Wade, who runs the Norfolk Upcycled Company, also at St Saviours Yard, added: "It sounded like it was unexpected. It was the loudest noise I have heard so far."

The council said it "sympathises" with the traders and residents caught in the cloud.

"Our contractors (DSM Demolition) have pulled out all the stops to address the situation which has been exacerbated due to the recent blustery conditions.

"Additionally, we would like to make it clear that any asbestos within the buildings is identified and recorded within surveys and is removed before the buildings are demolished.

"We remain on track to deliver the new Anglia Square and build 1,100 homes, retail, leisure and community spaces for the people of Norwich while creating a thriving, vibrant NR3."