Telegraph's Harry Wallop investigates the unfinished the 'WalkieTalkie' skyscraper in central London which is being blamed for reflecting intense beams of sunlight that superheat parts of the pavement below, melting cars and causing paintwork to blister.

The developers behind a skyscraper blamed for starting fires and causing damage by reflecting the sun's rays have said they will erect a temporary scaffold screen in an attempt to stop the "phenomenon".

The halffinished 37storey tower at 20 Fenchurch Street in central London, dubbed the "Walkie Talkie" due to its distinctive shape, is now being called the "Walkie Scorchie" because of its apparent ability to bounce heat from the sun onto buildings in the next street.

Angry business owners in Eastcheap say the £200 million project has blistered paintwork, caused tiles to smash and singed fabric. A motorist has also said the intense heat melted part of his Jaguar.

The carpet in a barbershop facing the building started to smoulder yesterday under the reflected light, and smoke also started coming out of the top of the salon's front door.
Local business workers even managed to fry an egg on a window sill below the building.

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