ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

A pedestrian was killed when he was struck by a window which fell from a penthouse flat in a luxury development on the Thames riverside.

The man is thought to have died instantly when the huge pane of glass crashed to the pavement outside the block of multi-million pound newly completed flats on the Albert Embankment.

Police said they were called by ambulance crews at 10.42am to reports of a man being injured in the street. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

One witness said the victim was a passing workman from a nearby construction site.

The pane of glass fell almost 250 feet from the penthouse of The Corniche block of luxury apartments on the south bank, opposite Tate Britain.

The victim is believed to have been walking below when the glass panel fell from the 27th floor - where apartments cost up to £6million.

A workman at the scene said: “A glass panel fell from the penthouse and hit a man who was walking under it. It killed him.

“You can see the hole in the top floor where the window fell out.”

The Corniche is advertised as an “exclusive address” of two, three and four bedroom apartments and penthouses with panoramic views over the Houses of Parliament.

The Berkeley Group development includes two bedroom apartments for £2.7 million with penthouse flats going for up to £6.7 million.

Scotland Yard said officers were trying to trace the man’s family this morning.

At first it was thought the man had fallen from the building but a Met spokeswoman said: “At this early stage in the investigation, it is believed he was hit by something falling from a building.”

The Health and Safety Executive has been informed.