A POPULAR lingerie shop was forced to close today (Monday) after a section of the building collapsed and fell onto the high street.

Ann Summers on Broad Street was cordoned off by the fire service at around 10.20am after a small amount of debris fell from the building.

The shop had been open for little more than half an hour when the incident happened, with staff at the neighbouring Italian restaurant Wolf waiting to start work as the section came tumbling to the ground.

They described seeing the section of wall falling to the floor and explained one man was nearly hit by material.

Firefighters from Caversham Road attended and nobody was injured.

Temporary hoardings have been put in place by the council's Building Control team until the damaged section has been fully removed and repaired.

A spokesman for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service explained: "At 10.20am on Monday, Thames Valley Fire Control Service received reports of part of a building collapsing on Broad Street, Reading.

"A Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service crew from Caversham Road Fire Station were sent to the scene.

"Firefighters worked to ensure safety at the scene, before they handed the building over to Reading Borough Council for further inspection.

"Crews were on scene for about 40 minutes."

Reading Borough Council staff confirmed a section of the signage had come loose, with the store likely to remain closed for at least 48 hours to ensure the building is safe to enter.

A council spokesman added: "The fascia and signage have come away from the Ann Summers building.

"Officers from the Building Control section have visited the site and temporary hoardings have been installed until works to remove or repair the damaged section have been completed."