A LUMP of mortar fell from York Minster onto an area busy with tourists.
The incident happened at around 9am yesterday and involved a piece of mortar falling from the south west tower.
Luckily, no-one was standing below it at the time, although such was the force of the impact that it did leave a mark on the stone pavement below.
The Dean of York, the Very Reverend Keith Jones, said the cause was being investigated.
He said: "A piece of mortar approximately five inches long fell from the south west tower between the two buttresses and the reason is being looked into carefully by our works department.
"Any such incidents, however small, which might have an effect on the safety of the public we shall assess rapidly and take any steps to protect people."
The falling mortar has echoes of a previous incident in York in which a woman died.
Debra Exton, 45, was killed by falling masonry in January 2002 when high winds dislodged the top section of a stone pinnacle from All Saints' Church, in Pavement.
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