A pedestrian narrowly avoided being hit by falling debris in Belsize Park on Tuesday (May 8)

It is believed plaster or wood fell from the window sill of a fourth-floor flat and onto England’s Lane at around 9am.

Police and the London Fire Brigade were called to the scene and sealed off the pavement outside Paradiso and the Curry Manjil restaurants.

A shop worker at Lotus and Frog next door, who did not wish to be named, said: “It would have been very dangerous if it had hit someone on the head. It looks like the building is in a poor state of repair.”

Belsize Cllr Jonny Bucknell said masonry also fell from above the neighbouring chemist more than a year ago.

“The fire brigade had to come down and knock off anything that looked at risk of falling off,” he said.

“It’s pretty grim if you get hit on the head with a large lump of concrete.”

Camden Council arranged for an emergency building contractor to remove leftover loose and dangerous masonry.

A council spokesman said the site is now safe.