Bookworms had a lucky escape this afternoon after a sheet of glass crashed to the floor smashing the silence of a library.

The freak incident happened this afternoon at Merton Civic Centre’s library when a two by one metre sheet of glass fell from the second floor of the library into the ground floor atrium.

Luckily no one was hurt in the incident but it was sheer luck that the area happened to be empty at the time in the Civic Centre, Merton Council's headquarters.

One witness, who was in the library at the time, said: "A very large piece of glass just fell off the roof of the library.

"It was a large piece of glass about a meter long by two metres and it fell right into a public area at the civic centre.

"It was only by god’s grace that no one was standing in the middle of the atrium when it happened.

"It was just incredible.

"Everyone was sitting quietly and the next this there is this big glass was falling and smashing to the ground.

"We heard a big smash and all glass all over that centre circle."

The library has been closed until tomorrow while council workers clear the area, and a full investigation has been launched into how the incident took place.

 

Councillor Nick Draper, cabinet member for community and culture, said: "This was a freak incident in which fortunately no one was harmed.

"The staff were quick to act and closed the library immediately. We’ll be carrying out a full investigation into what caused the pane of glass to fall and thank our library users for their patience while we prepare the library to be reopened tomorrow."

A council spokeswoman confirmed the incident was not related to current work being carried out to replace all 680 of the council building’s windows.

Did you see what happened? Call 020 8722 6336 or email lmay@london.newsquest.co.uk.