Falling masonry just misses pedestrian

Part of Lichfield Street remained sealed off today after the stonework, which weighed about three stone, fell from the row of Victorian buildings. Tammy Shannon, aged 19, of Bishop's Wood, South Staffordshire, was waiting for a bus when the drama unfolded at 1pm on Saturday.

Crowds gathered and buses queued up as they were diverted around the scene, by the Goose in the City pub.

Police sealed off Lichfield Street at its junctions with Princess Street and Queen Square for around 30 minutes to allow firefighters using a specialist crane to assess the building.

A structural engineer from Wolverhampton City Council was also called in.

Former council leader Roger Lawrence, whose St Peter's ward covers the city centre, said today: "I'm quite concerned about it. It's really quite scary.

"About six or seven years ago I saw a piece fall off on the same stretch of road, a bit further down just around the Posada pub.

"It wasn't quite as big, it was about the size of a cricket ball. But this clearly isn't a one-off. Today I'll be asking for the whole stretch to be looked at by our structural engineers

"It's got to be down to the owner to ensure things are safe. With the age of those buildings – they've got to be 140 to 150 years old – they do suffer from deterioration. It's a blessing that no-one was hurt. Let's make sure that no-one is hurt in the future."

Teenager Miss Shannon said she felt "lucky to be alive" after the near-miss. "I heard this big bang and bits of dust and stone went all in my face," she said. "The stone landed right by my feet."

Bosses from the Goose in the City said they were trying to contact the building's owner about the drama.

In July 2003, 10-month-old baby, Trilby Graham, was killed by falling masonry in West Bromwich's High Street.

The baby girl was being pushed along in a pram by her mother on the High Street when part of the roof of adjoining shops fell.