Large chunks of stonework fell from above a shop front narrowly missing shoppers at a market stall.

The stonework, which fell from above restaurant The Smoking Grill, smashed into Letchworth Street on the corner of Tooting Road in Tooting yesterday afternoon.

Wandsworth Times:

The building has now been made safe by officers from Wandsworth Council’s building control team.

The incident follows a tragic case in 2011 when Peter Westropp was killed while eating at Le Bouchon Bordelais in Battersea on August 10.

On April 24 stonework fell from a building in Balham High Road causing major traffic disruption, but thankfully missing pedestrians.

Wandsworth Council is urging landlords to carry out checks on their buildings to ensure tragedy is averted.

Head of building control Robert Foulger, said: “This incident once again underlines the importance of all property owners making sure that their buildings are properly maintained and do not pose a risk to the public.

“Many of the buildings in this part of London date back to the Victorian era and feature large pieces of decorative stonework fixed to the building by metal ties which rust away over time leaving the stonework unsupported and dangerous.

“Employing structural engineers or surveyors to carry out periodical inspections is not expensive and it means that problems can be detected quickly and repaired more cheaply. It could also save someone’s life.”