A BUILDER was hurt after he fell several floors while working in a city centre shop on Tuesday.

The 53-year-old man, who has not been named, suffered leg injuries after falling through a ceiling and landing in a basement of the building which is currently being refurbished in Oxford's High Street at about 9.20am.

Two fire crews and an ambulance were called to the site next door to Starbucks Cafe. It is being renovated into a Northern Rock building society.

It took fire crews about half an hour to free the builder.

Eye-witnesses described seeing the man, of Knowles & Son building contractors, being taken from the basement on a stretcher.

An ambulance spokesman said he fell several floors suffering leg injuries and was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in a stable condition.

It was not known how many floors he had fallen.

The injured man was released from hospital yesterday afternoon.

Andrew Glossop, managing director at Knowles & Son, said the builder was expected to return to work on Monday.

He added: "Our health and safety manager will be investigating the incident and, in line with our normal procedures, will submit his report for my consideration."

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said yesterday the incident had not yet been reported.