Bishopsgate still no-go area: Falling glass keeps bomb area unsafe as damage to NatWest and Hongkong buildings is put at pounds 100m each

A CORRUGATED iron fence now surrounds the no-go area in the heart of the City, following the Bishopsgate bombing 10 days ago. Recent strong winds have caused large shards of glass to crash to the ground, making it extremely dangerous.

The bomb caused more than pounds 100m of damage to the NatWest Tower, a leading loss adjuster said yesterday.

David Rowland, a director of the firm of Thomas Howell, said the blast caused a similar amount of damage to the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation's building (pictured).

Present indications are that in engineering terms it will not be necessary to pull down the NatWest Tower, a City of London landmark for two decades - although there could be commercial reasons for doing so. According to a report at the weekend, the Corporation of London's chief planning officer believes that the tower should go, since it is felt to be inefficient by modern building standards.

NatWest said: 'Any suggestion that the tower will be pulled down is somewhat premature.'

(Photograph omitted)