18 injured as ceiling falls in at Pontins

EIGHTEEN people were injured when a ceiling collapsed on guests at a Pontins holiday park last night.

Part of the roof at the Brean Sands camp in Somerset fell on a dance floor where families had been enjoying the half-term show.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, where there were also adults playing bingo, shortly before 6.30pm.

Eighteen patients were treated and six were taken to hospital – however police confirmed that there were only minor injuries and no one was seriously hurt. Witnesses described hearing screams as they ran to get out of the building. Lisa Cook, 40, who was hit by part of the roof, said: ‘There was a loud crack and part of the ceiling came down on me. It was chaos, people were screaming and shouting and running around.’

She told the The Mirror: ‘There were a couple of people underneath it, but they managed to get out. Big sheets of wood came down and scraped my neck. My son hid under the table, we ran outside, we got straight out of there.

‘After we got out I went back in and lifted the boards to see if there was anyone underneath.’

Adrian Besley, who is staying at Pontins with his partner, said: ‘It looks like the main club house roof has collapsed. I think Pontins will probably ask people to go home but I don’t know yet.’ He added that there were several ambulances, police cars and fire engines.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: ‘Shortly before 6.30pm emergency services were called to Brean Sands holiday park following reports a ceiling had collapsed inside a building.

‘A number of people suffered minor injuries in the incident but thankfully no one was seriously hurt.

‘A search of the scene has been carried out and we can confirm no one was trapped under the debris.

The South Western Ambulance Service said: ‘We sent six ambulances. Eighteen patients were treated with six taken to hospital.’

Pontins could not be reached for comment last night.

‘Screaming and shouting’