IN PICTURES: Mosque collapse closes road
A mosque inside a terrace house suddenly collapsed prompting a police helicopter search for anyone who might be trapped in the rubble.
Rescue crews including specialist dog teams confirmed no one was inside when the roof of the building in the Sparkbrook area of Birmingham fell.
The cause of the collapse is not yet known but is not believed to be suspicious. It has been reported that maintenance work was being carried out on the Masjid Umar mosque.
West Midlands Fire Service was called to property in Walford Road at 11.30pm last night.
Pictures from the scene showed much of the roof had fallen in at the terrace house.
A heap of debris including metal bars, beams, bricks and roof tiles was piled outside the front of the building.
Firefighters used specialist dog teams from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and a police helicopter to search for anyone who might have been trapped in the rubble.
A fire service spokesman said: "Our K9 colleagues from Leicestershire have carried out a sweep of the area to confirm there are no people involved.
"Crews are carrying out a final physical search externally before we hand over to West Midlands Police."
The all-clear was given at around 3am this morning.
A spokesman for the force said the incident was not a police matter but Walford Road remained closed and access may also be restricted on surrounding streets, Osborn Road, Medlicott Road and Holder Road.
West Midlands Police said the council had been notified and a safety inspection of the building would take place.
