Glasgow Science Centre has confirmed that the 127m (417ft)-tall Glasgow Tower - one of the tallest freestanding buildings in Scotland - has been shut due to 'technical issues'.

The attraction first opened in 2001 and is capable of rotating 360 degrees into the prevailing wind. It was designed by Richard Horden Associates and boasts a viewing cabin at the top. In a statement, a Glasgow Science Centre spokesperson said: "The operation of the Tower at Glasgow Science Centre continues to be unreliable due to technical issues stemming from its original design.

"These are complex and long-standing issues to be resolved in a unique structure and we believe that it is unlikely that a possible solution will be available this year." It is not the first time that the Glasgow Tower has been forced to shut, with a broken bearing and a faulty lift affecting the attraction in previous years.

Image: Stephen Sweeney