A BANK in Weymouth was cordoned off by police after part of a sculpture fell on to the pavement.

Dorset Police taped off the Natwest bank on the corner of St Thomas Street and New Bond Street late on Sunday night after the arm of the male sculpture above the door fell off.

The statue has stood above the door of the building since 1915.

There were no reported injuries.

The bank was reopened at 2pm.

Customers and shop staff in the Weymouth town centre arrived this morning to find the area outside the bank taped off with a barricade of cones surrounding the entrance and the branch closed.

A spokesman for Natwest Bank said the building was structurally ‘absolutely fine’ and they were awaiting structural engineers to assess the damage.

She said: “The arm of the structure fell down last night at approximately 8pm. The structure of the building is absolutely fine.

“We do have structural engineers coming out to look at it.”

She added: “The reason we have the structural engineers coming out is because of the position of the statue over the door. They just need to check it.”

There is no estimated time for the branch to re-open yet, however, there is a branch in Dorchester or customers can use the Post Office on St Thomas Street for their banking.

The cash machine outside Natwest is still accessible as well.

Staff working in the town centre said they arrived to work to find the area cordoned off.

Frances Hammond, 26, works at the O2 shop opposite Natwest as a Customer Advisor. He said: “My two colleagues and I arrived at work at 8.45am and the area was already cordoned off. It is unusual that customers haven't mentioned it today. Fortunately, it must have happened when there were no shoppers in the vicinity.”

Staff in New Look, opposite the building said they had not been aware of the statue fall immediately as they arrive through the back of the building.