THE Glasgow School of Art (GSoA) has moved six inches in a week and could collapse at any moment, the council leader has said.

Susan Aitken’s comments come one week after fire tore through the world-renowned building for the second time in four years.

An area surrounding the Mackintosh Building has been sealed off, with more than a dozen businesses affected, including the O2 ABC and Campus where the roofs caved in.

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Ms Aitken said today: “Our building control officers are saying part of the building has moved quite significantly, about six inches.

“The elevation has shifted. There's a danger that part of the building may collapse.

“If that were to happen, it could happen with no warning.

“Therefore it's very, very important that no one enters the cordon - unless they are an accredited expert.”

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Experts urged the public to stay away from the gutted building on Thursday night as reports emerged of people breaching the cordon, raising safety concerns.

Security staff at the cordon interrupted looters who broke into Campus and stole alcohol.

Glasgow City Council’s head of building control Raymond Barlow said: “I fully understand people’s desire to get back into their property and if we could safely do anything to facilitate that then we would.

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“However, surveys in recent days have shown us that the west and east elevations remain of significant concern.

“This means there is a risk that parts of the building might fall into Scott Street or Dalhousie Street. This could happen without warning.”

At the height of the incident, more than 120 firefighters were involved in fighting the blaze.

There have been no reports of any casualties, although emergency services had to evacuate some properties in the area.