If you are unfamiliar with the Royal Mail vs Deco Cafe saga, please read the following articles before proceeding:

Deco Cafe building presents "clear and evident danger" to passersby

"Wrong side!" - Royal Mail contractors install protective canopy under area already fixed

Contractors have returned to extend the temporary protective canopy they erroneously installed beneath an already fixed area of concrete lintel on the first floor of Deco Cafe.

It now protects passersby from concrete potentially falling from a visibly cracked area of the render.

Engineers have said they are due to return on 24 May to perform a 'tap and test' inspection of the building before deciding on further action.

Although Deco owner Deborah Locke is pleased that action has been taken, she says says there is "no point" preparing to reopen only to be forced to close a few days later - a process that would be both time-consuming and costly.

"I'm delighted they've finally made it safe for the public to walk past, including the school children who walk past here almost every day," she told Nub News.

"The fact that they did the wrong side was typical Royal Mail, but at least it's now probably safe to walk under.

"We still can't reopen until after the engineer's been here. If the engineer comes and they do the tap and test and decide they do have to hack it all off, reinforce the steel and then re-render, I would have to close down right after reopening."

Mrs Locke said reopening entails a momentous cleaning effort, which would be a waste of time if forced to close. All stock prepared would also go to waste.

"So there's absolutely no point in opening until I know what's going to happen on the 24th."

Mrs Locke revealed she is considering closing her business permanently due to the ordeal.

She is demanding that Royal Mail do not claim rent from 7 December (the date the render failed) and compensate her for loss of earnings during that period.