ENGINEERS are to carry out investigations into the state of a town centre store.

St Nicholas Street, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, one of the resort's main thoroughfares, has been closed since Thursday night when it was discovered that the six-storey former Marshall and Snelgrove was in danger of imminent collapse.

Work to make the building safe could take up to three weeks, said Scarborough Borough Council's chief executive, John Trebble.

Several businesses have had to close, and some are being relocated. Traffic is also being diverted, causing disruption to bus routes.

Police have mounted a guard on the site as contractors investigate the future of the building, which faces at least partial demolition starting today.

They dangerous state of the building was discovered while work was being carried out to turn it into a theme pub.