Falling tiles close parts of FACT Centre

Falling ceiling tiles at the £10m FACT (Film, Art and Creative Technology) Centre in Liverpool has resulted in the temporary closure of larger screens while investigations take place.

The centre, which has only been open for eight weeks, called in experts two weeks ago after part of the suspended acoustic ceiling in screen three became detached. Tests already underway are expected to give screens one and two a clean bill of health.

FACT plans to re-open screens one and two - the centre's two largest screens - within weeks following tests on its acoustic ceilings. However, screen three is now unlikely to re-open until later in the summer as further tests and improvements are made.

FACT executive director Eddie Berg said: "Liverpool has waited years for a facility like FACT and we're as frustrated as everyone else about this issue. We've had a fantastic first few weeks and we've just welcomed our 25,000th visitor ahead of schedule."

"To be faced with this issue now almost defies belief. But we're a public building so when something like this occurs a whole series of agencies become involved in testing the acoustic ceilings and determining the need for any improvements," he added.

Mowlem, the main contractor for the centre, said that FACT had called in an independent investigator to look at the problem and "it will be about two weeks before we know anything".