Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service have explained why they were called to the Old Market in Hereford on Monday afternoon.

Crews were called alongside West Mercia Police, to the Old Market, following reports that a sign on the building had become unstable and presented a risk to members of the public.

The ‘D’ on the Debenhams sign had become loose and presented a risk to pedestrians and motorists and a decision was taken to temporarily close Newmarket Street so that fire crews could safely remove the section of the sign that had become unsafe. 

A similar incident happened around a year ago.

A spokesperson for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (Hereford Fire Station) said:

“Just to let you know we weren’t ‘fixing’ the sign as that is indeed a job for contractors etc. 

“We were mobilised to reports of a ‘dangerous structure’ as part of our response to ‘Emergency Special Services Call’. 

“Due to the risk this sign posed of falling and potentially seriously injuring pedestrians and vehicles using Newmarket Street, our crews used specialist power tools to free the sign and lower safely to the ground.”