Nexus, the company that operates the Tyne and Wear Metro, have said that Whitley Bay Metro station will remain closed until at least Wednesday next week (22 January).

The station in North Tyneside was closed on Friday morning after a glass roof panel blew free at around 8.30am in Storm Otto's 75mph winds and nearly landed on a trader setting up their stall below.

Read more: Near miss as trader nearly hit by glass panel as Storm Otto closes Metro station

The Sustenance Society, an independent baker that trades on the station concourse every Friday and Saturday shared a photo on their social media following the incident that showed the broken glass panel and the damage done to their stall, saying that they were "very lucky [to] live through this without a scratch."

The Northern Echo: The glass panel could have seriously injured people beneath.The glass panel could have seriously injured people beneath. (Image: The Northern Echo)

"We had to throw away everything on the stall as it was covered in broken glass," they wrote.

While trains will still run through Whitley Bay station they won't be stopping, and the Grade II listed building will be closed to passengers while engineers conduct an assessment.

After the incident a Nexus spokesperson said: “Gale force winds brought down a glass roof a panel at Whitley Bay Metro station this morning. Nobody was injured.

“The station has been closed to the public while our structural engineers conduct a detailed inspection to ensure that it is safe for it to re-open.

“Metro services are currently running through Whitley Bay station without stopping there.

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Travellers from Whitley Bay are advised to go to Cullercoats or Monkseaton to catch Metros."

Nexus's latest statement, released on Friday night, said "Whitley Bay station is closed until Wednesday, 22 February, while engineers conduct an inspection."

The roof of the station is scheduled for a major refurbishment later this year.