Police place cordon around York city centre shops

Police have placed a cordon around shops in York today (Tuesday).

The police tape is stretched around the Acuitis Opticians and Hearing store at 35 Coney Street.

It also covers a neighbouring empty property, and comes halfway across the store hosting the pop-up Streetlife exhibition.

The cordon is in place to keep pedestrians safe, after masonry fell from the roof and hit Coney Street below.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “Police have cordoned a small area of Coney Street in York city centre.

“It follows reports that tiles of a building may have become dislodged in high winds.

“Police have taped off the area to keep people safe until the building can be checked and repaired.”

People can still get by along the pavement next to Sports Direct.

Like much of the country, York has been battered by high winds today. According to the York Weather Station, the biggest gust in the city recorded by 1pm was 22.4mph.