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Sign falls at festival
Six people were injured after a sign fell at the Big Church Festival at Wiston Park near Steyning in West Sussex, with emergency services called shortly after 15:30 BST on Friday.
“Six people have been injured by a falling sign at a Christian festival in West Sussex”
Sussex Police said emergency services were responding to reports of a sign having fallen and injuring a number of people at the site in Washington Road, and officers were called at around 3.38pm and remained at the scene.
South East Coast Ambulance Service said its crews, critical care paramedics and specialist response teams were on scene with six patients confirmed so far.
Organisers told attendees that Friday’s show had been cancelled and that all day visitors “must leave the site now,” while campers were told to return to their campsites and await further updates.
Lockdown and organiser messages
The festival was placed on “lockdown” after “multiple people” sustained injuries, with attendees being prevented from entering the site and “not allowed to get in or out,” according to a journalist from Premier Christian News cited by Wales Online.
Premier Christian News’ James Lewis said, “We've been told that the site is on lockdown, with people not allowed to get in or out,” as the rest of Friday’s programme was cancelled following what organisers described as a “serious incident.”
Organisers posted on Instagram that “All day visitors must leave the site now,” and told those camping to return to their campsites and await further updates.
Sussex Police warned of possible traffic disruption in the local area and urged the public to seek alternative routes, while the BBC said the public was urged to seek alternative routes and traffic disruption was expected.
What happens next
South East Coast Ambulance Service said it had “no further information to share at this time but will provide updates as soon as possible,” while emergency services remained at the scene assisting other responders.
“Multiple people have been crushed by a sign at a music festival in West Sussex”
Sussex Police said officers were called at about 15:40 and remained at the scene, and the BBC reported that traffic disruption was expected in the area and the public were urged to seek alternative routes.
The Telegraph described the incident as multiple people being “crushed by a sign at music festival,” while also repeating that six injured were confirmed by South East Coast Ambulance Service.
The BBC said the Big Church Festival describes itself as the UK’s biggest Christian festival, and organisers said Friday’s show was cancelled due to a “serious incident,” with all day visitors ordered to leave the site now.