BANK NatWest has been granted approval to make vital repairs to prevent falling masonry.

Parent firm the Royal Bank of Scotland said repairs to the stonework on the façade of the Grade II listed building at 1-5 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, were required to prevent possible injury.

Its application said: "The external façade is unsafe and suffering from stonework erosion due to the exposure on its corner plot and location near the sea.

"There are concerns with loose masonry falling from the building and potential injury to the passing public.

"A temporary crash deck has been deployed.

"The application is for repairs to the stonework to make the fabric safe and protect the listed building overall."

The bank closed temporarily for "health and safety" reasons in December after some stone fell from the building. No one was injured.

A report by Capital Stone Renovation said little effort had been made to repair the stonework in recent years.

"It was no surprise, therefore, to find that the stonework generally is in a very poor state of repair and has apparently not been maintained for some considerable time."

Its report said the Bath/Cotswold limestone had a "façade life" of between 80 and 120 years.

"The building façades were originally constructed in 1888 and further works were carried out in 1920, so the stone has lasted as well as could be expected, especially in a semi-marine environment."

Bournemouth council said the repairs were essential and the proposals "will be done sympathetically and will not harm the special interest or significance of the building".

A report by planning officer Katherine Ashley says: "The application proposals relate to essential external repairs which, due to their nature and extent, require consent.

"Much of the stonework is in a poor state of repair as a result of its age, weathering, missing pointing allowing water ingress and the failure of previous repairs."

While the scaffolding is up the prominent building's windows will also be repainted.