Members of original project team aid inspection, after beam slips from its mountings in main debating chamber.

Health and safety inspectors are investigating the collapse of a beam in the Scottish parliament building after MSPs were forced to evacuate the building yesterday.

It is understood members of the original project team, including Bovis Lend Lease, have been called in to aid the inspection. It is understood that the beam, in the main debating chamber, slipped from its mountings and stopped seconds from crashing through a glass screen.

It is not clear when MSPs will be able to return to parliament. Experts have speculated that the collapse was related to recent cold weather.