Glare From London's 'Walkie-Talkie' Skyscraper 'Melted Man's Jaguar Car'

Skyscraper Glare 'Melted My Jag'

Bright light reflecting from a unfinished skyscraper in the City of London is so intense it has melted part of a Jaguar car, it has been reported.

Developers of the "Walkie-Talkie", so-called for its distinctive shape, are investigating reports of the damaging glare, while a number of nearby car parking spaces have been suspended, City A.M. said.

Local businessman Martin Lindsay said he was distraught when he returned to his high-spec Jaguar XJ parked on Eastcheap on Thursday afternoon to find warped panels along one side.

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

Mr Lindsay, director of tiling company Moderna Contracts, told the BBC he was alerted to the damage by a photographer who was taking pictures of the damage.

"You can't believe something like this would happen," he said.

"They've got to do something about it.

"It could be dangerous. Imagine if the sun reflected on the wrong part of the body."

Another driver has also come forward to complain of damage to his Vauxhall Vevaro van

Eddie Cannon, a heating and air conditioning engineer, told City A.M.: "The van looks a total mess - every bit of plastic on the left hand side and everything on the dashboard has melted, including a bottle of Lucozade that looks like it has been baked."

The 37-storey skyscraper at 20 Fenchurch Street is still under construction.

In a joint statement, developers Land Securities and Canary Wharf, told the newspaper they are investigating the glare from the skyscraper.

"As a precautionary measure, the City of London has agreed to suspend three parking bays in the area which may be affected," they added.

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