Hanley Falcon Works kiln collapses

JH Weatherby's bottle kiln was built in Hanley in 1906

An old pottery kiln has collapsed in Stoke-on-Trent, an area famous for the production of ceramics.

The Grade II-listed bottle kiln at the former JH Weatherby Falcon Works site in Hanley was built in 1906.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council said it was not clear when the kiln's brickwork collapsed, but that it would be meeting with the owner to discuss repairs.

It added that the site, behind security fencing, did not represent an immediate risk to public safety.

Councillor Ruth Rosenau, cabinet member for regeneration, said an officer had assessed the extent of the damage and the council would continue to monitor the site.

First registered as a listed building in 1989, an English Heritage spokesperson said: "We're always concerned about any built heritage being at risk and industrial heritage is a really important part of our history."

Dave Chetwin, from the Potteries Heritage Society, said the city's kilns once numbered into the thousands, but were now quite rare.