GALE-FORCE winds battered Liverpool, causing chaos for Christmas shoppers as a city centre street was closed off.
Police shut James Street as debris flew off the roof of The Albion – one of the city’s most famous buildings.
Officers shut the road at around 9.30am yesterday when they received reports that the roof of the building, at the junction with The Strand, was partially collapsing.
Merseyrail closed the James Street and Water Street entrances to James Street station while the roof was secured.
The building’s owner was contacted, but it was too dangerous for contractors to secure the roof.
Last night, James Street was reopened to pedestrians but a ban on vehicles remained.
The council spokesperson said: “It will remain like that until work is carried out on the roof.”
Elsewhere, Liverpool coastguard recorded windspeeds of up to 50 knots and issued a warning to vessels.
