The damage came to light only at about 10am when Boots staff visited the empty top floor and were able to see daylight through the ceiling.
Fire incident commander Peter Saunders said his crew were on the scene from about 10.45am.
‘After an inspection, we cordoned off part of the road and brought the engine down,’ he said.
‘Since then, we have been using the ladder to assist the scaffold team.’
Firefighters and scaffolders worked together for around four hours on top of the 30-foot building to secure the damage.
Civil protection officers were on hand to guide shoppers around the area.
Shops remained open while the work took place.
Formula Scaffolding office manager Jenna Mourant said the damage was believed to have occurred in the early hours of the morning as a storm passed quickly over the island.
‘The chimney has moved away from the wall,’ she said.
‘At the moment, our staff are working alongside the fire service to make the area safe.
‘This is only a temporary fix and the area will need to be properly inspected before repairs are done.’
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