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London driver says skyscraper "melted" his car

A man reacts to a shaft of intense sunlight reflected from the glass windows of the new "Walkie Talkie" tower in central London on August 30, 2013.  The skyscraper's developers said they were seeking to rectify the problem which they blamed on t
A man reacts to a shaft of intense sunlight reflected from the glass windows of the new "Walkie Talkie" tower in central London on August 30, 2013.  The skyscraper's developers said they were seeking to rectify the problem which they blamed on the position of the sun at certain times of day. -- PHOTO: AFP 
A man reacts to a shaft of intense sunlight reflected from the glass windows of the new "Walkie Talkie" tower in central London on August 30, 2013. The skyscraper's developers said they were seeking to rectify the problem which they blamed on the position of the sun at certain times of day. -- PHOTO: AFP  
General view of the "Walkie Talkie" tower which has been creating a shaft of intense sunlight reflected from it's glass windows onto the streets below in central London on August 30, 2013. The skyscraper's developers said they were seeking to rectify the problem which they blamed on the position of the sun at certain times of day. -- PHOTO: AFP   
People react to a shaft of intense sunlight reflected from the glass windows of the new "Walkie Talkie" tower in central London on August 30, 2013. The skyscraper's developers said they were seeking to rectify the problem which they blamed on the position of the sun at certain times of day. -- PHOTO: AFP 
A young couple kiss as they stand in a shaft of intense sunlight reflected from the glass windows of the new "Walkie Talkie" tower in central London on August 30, 2013. The skyscraper's developers said they were seeking to rectify the problem which they blamed on the position of the sun at certain times of day. -- PHOTO: AFP 
 A woman walks through the shaft of intense sunlight reflected from the glass windows of the new "Walkie Talkie" tower in central London on August 30, 2013. The skyscraper's developers said they were seeking to rectify the problem which they blamed on the position of the sun at certain times of day. -- PHOTO: AFP 
A man reacts to a shaft of intense sunlight reflected from the glass windows of the new Walkie Talkie tower in central London on Aug 30, 2013. A motorist said intense sunlight reflected from the Walkie Talkie warped his Jaguar which he had parked across the road. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP

LONDON (REUTERS) - A cluster of new skyscrapers transforming the London skyline are often blamed for spoiling the view. Now one has been accused of "melting" a car.

A motorist said intense sunlight reflected from the Walkie Talkie - one of several flashy towers under construction in The City, London's historic financial district - warped his Jaguar which he had parked across the road.

The skyscraper's developers said they were seeking to rectify the problem which they blamed on the position of the sun at certain times of day.

"The phenomenon is caused by the current elevation of the sun in the sky. It currently lasts for approximately 2 hours per day, with initial modelling suggesting that it will be present for approximately 2-3 weeks," Land Securities and Canary Wharf said in a statement.

Three parking bays had been taken out of service pending a solution, they added.

Motorist Martin Lindsay told the BBC he had left his car for an hour opposite the building and returned to find the wing mirror, panels and Jaguar badge had "melted".

"You can't believe something like this would happen," he said. "They've got to do something about it."

The 37-storey building at 20 Fenchurch Street, which will feature a viewing deck and "sky gardens" open to the public, has been nicknamed the Walkie Talkie after its distinctive shape which appears to expand outwards at the top.

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