UK- Security officials have commenced investigation into the reason why part of a ceiling collapsed at a central London Theatre which injured about 76 people.

About 10 sq m of ornate plasterwork at the Apollo fell on to the audience during a production of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time.

Some reports suggested water dripped through cracks in the West End venue's ceiling before it came down.

 Part of inquiry will be the effect of adverse weather on the 100-year-old, Grade II-listed building.

Shaftesbury Avenue is getting back to normal though - London buses have resumed their routes, tourist coaches are ferrying visitors through central London and commuters are on their way to work.

Describing the fatal incident, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham Ellis of the London Fire Brigade said the plasterwork had fallen on to the upper circle, the dress circle and the stalls.

"The injuries to the casualties that our colleagues have spoken about are consistent with that." He said.

Sources revealed that the collapse happened at 20:15 GMT on Thursday when the theatre was almost full, with 720 people watching the performance.

Of the 76 injured, 58 were taken to four London hospitals. There were no life-threatening injuries.