Passport Office closed due to wind damage

A passport office has been forced to close after being damaged by high winds.

Urgent in-person services at Durham Passport Office, including premium and fast-track appointments, have been cancelled.

Customers who have appointments booked at the city centre site will be contacted "shortly", the Home Office said.

The building has been closed for "the safety of our staff and customers", a spokesperson said. It is not known when it will reopen.

Durham County Council confirmed it had been told by the Passport Office that "materials" had fallen from the building and damaged the property, in Freeman's Place, during high winds over the weekend.

Building safety manager Ted Murphy said the council's highways team had arranged for a road and footpath closure "in the interests of public safety".

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Durham Passport Office was damaged by strong winds over the weekend, and the building is currently closed for the safety of our staff and customers.

"We do not expect this to impact our ability to process standard passport applications."

The council said the Passport Office would reopen as soon as possible.

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