Walkie-Talkie Skyscraper Beam 'Melts Cars'

Blinding rays of light from a skyscraper in the City of London are being blamed for melting parts of vehicles below it.

City AM journalist Jim Waterson managed to fry an egg in the glare of the skyscraper where the temperature was measured at 92.6F (33.7C).

Developers of 20 Fenchurch Street, better known as the "Walkie-Talkie" because of its distinctive shape, are investigating reports of the damaging glare, and a number of nearby car parking spaces have been suspended, say reports.

Businessman Martin Lindsay said he was distraught when he returned to find his luxury Jaguar XJ saloon with warped panels along one side.

The wing mirror and badge had also melted from the heat of the reflected sunlight, he claimed.

"They’re going to have to think of something. I’m gutted. How can they let this continue?"

The 37-storey skyscraper is still being built and the developers are trying to find a way of sorting out the problem by putting up cladding and scaffolding to cover the area of pavement on Eastcheap where the Jaguar melted.

A joint statement from Land Securities and Canary Wharf said: "We are taking the issue of light reflecting from 20 Fenchurch Street seriously, and are looking into the matter as a priority.

"The phenomenon is caused by the current elevation of the sun in the sky. It currently lasts for approximately two hours per day, with initial modelling suggesting that it will be present for approximately 2-3 weeks.

"As responsible developers we are making every effort to keep local businesses informed and we have communicated with them regularly since the issue first appeared. While we investigate the situation further we have liaised with the City of London to suspend three parking bays in the area which may be affected.

"In addition, we are consulting with local businesses and the City to address the issue in the short-term, while also evaluating longer-term solutions to ensure the issue cannot recur in future."