The Shard draws itself up to its full height

Pedestrians walk near The Shard building at London Bridge (Reuters)

Pedestrians walk near The Shard building at London Bridge as the final section of steel was lifted into place on Europe's tallest building yesterday, bringing it to its full height of 310 metres (1,017ft).

The skyscraper, costing £450m, dominates the captial's skyline and dwarfs Canary Wharf tower in Docklands, which stands at 771ft.

The Shard will be divided between residential and office use and will also house restaurants, a viewing gallery with 360-degree views over 40 miles, and a five-star hotel. However, its status as Europe's highest tower will be short-lived – it is set to be overtaken by the 1,050ft Hermitage Plaza in Paris, which will be ready in 2016.