A massive chunk of concrete from an HSBC building in Hamilton crashed into the sidewalk yesterday.

The bank has shut the Reid Street entrance to its Harbourview building as the cause of the incident is investigated.

A poster on Facebook who saw the incident said: “I was about to go in the building to the ATM and heard a loud bang.

“I looked only to see a massive concrete slab had fallen off the building and just missed someone who had walked by not even five seconds earlier.”

The poster added: “If it was lunchtime, with more people walking in the street, I hate to think what would have happened.

“Big bits of the slab fell on to the sidewalk along with glass that had shattered.

“The building should be closed until it is fully and thoroughly inspected.”

The incident happened at around 6.30am.

A spokeswoman for the bank said: “The cause of the incident and full extent of the damage is currently being investigated.

“The safety of our employees, customers and the general public are of the utmost importance to the bank and we ask that the area be avoided by pedestrians and that all customers and employees access the Harbourview Building via the Front Street entrance until such time that it is deemed safe to use the Reid Street entrance.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”