IT officially opened less than a year ago but the Hive has become the latest victim of the unusually wet weather last year.

One of the pathways outside the landmark building in Worcester has been closed for several weeks due to subsidence following the heavy rainfall experienced last year.

But plans are in place to relay the slabs in the pathway to permanently repair the problem as soon as possible.

A spokesman for Galliford Try, the construction company that built the Hive, said: “A short section of the raised walkway on the Hive site has been subject to some minor settlement over the last year, primarily due to the unusually wet weather that was experienced last year.

“The slabs will be lifted and re-laid to provide a permanent repair as part of the 12-month defects rectification period. In the meantime, all other routes into the Hive are accessible to all and we aim to complete the repair work as soon as possible.”

The problem has not deterred visitors to the building, which welcomed 84,000 people in January.

As reported in your Worcester News yesterday, the Hive is well on course to attracting one million visitors ahead of its first anniversary after welcoming 600,000 people through its doors in just 224 days.

The £60 million building in Sawmill Walk, The Butts, is a joint initiative between Worcestershire County Council and the University of Worcester and is popular with students, families and members of the public.

It was officially opened by the Queen and Prince Philip when they visited Worcester as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour in July last year.

The controversial building, which divided opinions with its striking golden roof, has also received global recognition and was shortlisted for the prestigious World Architecture Festival Awards last year.