Art Lovers "Mind The Crack"

Tate Modern’s Doris Salcedo's Shibboleth exhibition, which essentially is a large crack in the floor,has caused 15 injuries since its opening seven weeks ago, it has been revealed by the Times.

The 167-metre long crack running through the museum’s Turbine Hall is intended to symbolize racial hatred and division, and seems to has its visitors falling for it in a quite literal sense . In its defence the gallery has said that their has been only 10 reported incidents and "no serious injuries" despite 870,000 visitors.

The Tate has positioned staff to monitor visitors around the hall, posted warning signs in the gallery, and distributed leaflets warning of potential injury, but four of the 15 accidents, some of which resulted in minor injuries, have nevertheless been reported to government authorities.

The Times obtained its figures through a request made under the Freedom of Information Act.The paper also quoted an internal e-mail, sent by the museum's head of safety before the exhibit opened, which discussed the safety hazards.

A spokeswoman for the museum said there were currently no plans to fence off the long crack.