The Madeira Story Centre in Funchal, Madeira, has been forced to close due to the heavy flooding on the island.

The site, the island's first visitor centre, features exhibition spaces housed in a number of buildings and include a storyline of João Gonçalves Zarco's discovery of the Madeiran archipelago in 1418.

The attraction was opened in 2005 by Blandy Group at a cost of around €6.4m (£4.5m. US$8.5m).

The construction was project managed by UK-based Petersham Group and the attraction's exhibition design and build was completed by Haley Sharpe Design. Funchal-based Gabinete Caires were the project architects.

Keith Thomas, founder and director of Petersham Group, said: "The centre was yesterday still under 2m of sludge following the floods in Funchal. Fortunately no one was injured but the basement and ground floor and all fittings in there will be a write off.

"We all hope that the attraction can be revived and our thoughts are with general manager Joana de Freitas and her team."