People today spoke of their horror after a three-storey town centre building collapsed, killing a man.

Gas and electricity supplies were cut off as efforts continued to retrieve the body of the man in his 30s still trapped on the ground floor today. 

Firms along West Bromwich High Street counted the cost of disruption.

Ross Basford, 32, who lives doors away, in a flat above Clive Basford hairdressers,  said: “It was about 12.30am and I was up working on the computer when the building started to shake. I went out and there was a gang of about four people and one guy said we’ve got to get them out. 

“We went round the back of the building. I could hear somebody shouting through the window. There was a guy standing on the roof shouting that somebody was trapped. By that time the police had arrived so I grabbed a bag from my flat before I was evacuated. I thought it was an earthquake but it was much more powerful.”

Inside a police cordon businesses, shops and pubs including The Marksman, The Wheatsheaf and The Old Hop Pole all remained closed today. 

Others were affected as many staff were unable to get to work. Nigel Hill, office manager of recruitment consultants Ideal Employment Ltd whose office is next door, said: “I hope it hasn’t damaged our building in any way but we don’t know yet. We’re not allowed in. My desk literally faces the wall that collapsed. I was quite shocked when I saw it this morning. I could lose out on a contract for 300 temps today. 

“We do our business day by day so it could be really serious for us not being able to get in. We’ve been told that it could be anything from a day to a week that we’re allowed back in.”

Jill Britton, 52, landlady of The Wheatsheaf pub, three buildings down from the collapsed property said: “I heard a noise, it was like a whoosh and a rumble. To be honest I thought it was a really huge gust of wind. Then I started to hear voices and I heard all the police sirens outside. All our gas and power is off now.”

The neighbouring Shaftesbury Casino, three buildings down, closed an hour and a half early. It is believed up to 400 people were evacuated after the fire service shut off power along the high street at about 2.45am.

Archie Wheldon, fire service Divisional Officer said: “This is a catastrophic failure of a roof. I’ve been up there on top of the building and it is a scene of utter devastation. Standing up there you can almost see right down to the ground floor. We are still treating this as a rescue operation. It’s a painstaking task and one that is very very dangerous for our officers.”

 Councillor Bob Badham, Sandwell Council cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said: “The building is privately owned and is being dealt with by the building inspectorate.”