The millennium tower at the £75m Glasgow Science Park has been closed because of structural damage at the base.
The 104 m, £9m tower is the first in the world to rotate 360°, swivelling on two bearings at the bottom. However, it has started to sink because of wear-and-tear to one of these.

The bearings were supposed to last for up to 20 years, but have survived only three. It is believed that one may have been exposed to the elements during the construction phase, shortening its lifespan.

A spokesperson for the Glasgow Science Centre said the damage to the bearing assembly mechanism was "consistent with many years of wear-and-tear".

He added that an inspection of the base of the tower had began on Tuesday and was expected to last for two to three days.

The Glasgow Science Centre, Scotland's most expensive millennium project, has been plagued by problems.

Visitors had to be allowed in free on the opening day because the park did not hold a public entertainment licence.

Last week it emerged that the park's £1.5m footbridge over the Clyde has run into trouble, as some property owners on the opposite bank claim that they never gave permission for it to encroach on their land.

The contractor on the scheme was Carillion and structural and services engineer on the tower was Buro Happold.

The architects were Building Design Partnership and Richard Holden.