Pictures show scale of car park deck collapse

Images have revealed the scale of damage caused to a multi-storey car park after part of the building collapsed.

Three shops on the ground level of the Walkden Street car park in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, were forced to close on Saturday after the building's top deck suffered "structural damage".

The car park itself has been shut since February last year due to safety concerns.

Mansfield District Council said it was working with engineers to "ensure that the building retains its integrity".

Discount store B&M, a British Heart Foundation shop, and the Bolek I Lolek (Food Plus) store, which are located beneath the car park, will remain shut for at least two weeks, the authority said.

James Biddlestone, the council's chief executive officer, said he wanted to assure all visitors, businesses and residents in the area that "public safety remains our primary consideration".

"We are working on the advice of our appointed structural engineers to explore further structural support to ensure that the building retains its integrity," he said.

The authority is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the car park, which is leased from Tesco supermarket.

Mr Biddlestone added: "Currently, three businesses are closed whilst we continue to inspect the site.

"We've been in close contact with them since the incident and have provided advice in relation to the closure of the car park.

"We continue to work with the three directly affected businesses and their insurers regarding the next steps."

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