The heart of Frome was this evening (November 13) closed off due to a big structural problem found in one of the shops along Bath Street.

Structural engineers called for the road to be closed and the people living above Absolutely Fabulous costume hire were moved elsewhere when a central wooden beam was found to be unsafe.

Nub News spoke to the owner of the property, who did not wish to be named, who played down social media speculation that the building was about to collapse.

He said that an engineer had recorded a problem with the main wooden beam across the width of the costume hire shop on Bath Street. That beam is understood to date from 1760 and will need to be given additional structural integrity to make the building safe.

Until then everyone in the building has been moved elsewhere while engineers are on site advising workmen how to tackle the problem.

The road past the 20 Bath Street remains blocked off tonight at 19:00 with a cordon from the corner opposite the church and another down by the fountain.