Glasgow’s famous People’s Palace has been closed amid fears that glass above the Winter Gardens could come crashing down.

Glazing in the iron-framed Victorian glasshouse was repaired in 2013 at a cost of £140,000 but it has emerged that some panels are loose.

Glasgow City Council shut the social history museum and glasshouse this morning and it is expected to remain closed for several days.

When it does reopen an area of the Winter Gardens is likely to be out of bounds while repairs are carried out.

The People’s Palace opened in 1898 and exhibits tell the story of the history of Glasgow from 1750 onwards.

The Winter Gardens, which can be accessed from the museum, houses tropical plants and a bustling café.

A council spokesman said: “Both the People’s Palace and the Winter Gardens are closed today and will be over the weekend.

“They’ve been closed on health and safety grounds due to an issue with loose panels in the glass roof of the Winter Gardens.

“The Winter Gardens provides an exit route from the People’s Palace Museum in the event of an emergency and it also houses toilets, a lift and stairwell used by the museum.

“Until such times as alternative arrangements can be put in place to enable safe access to these facilities and routes, the buildings cannot be used by the public. We are working to make this happen as soon as possible.”

The People’s Palace is already undergoing a phased refurbishment, and some of the exhibits are temporarily off limits.