EIGHTEEN people have been injured after 40 metres of ceiling and ducting collapsed in a building at Brean Pontins. 

Police, fire and ambulance crews rushed to the holiday resort at around 6.30pm today (February 20) following reports of a roof collapse. 

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Servicesent five fire appliances to the scene and said a 40 metre section of ducting collapsed into a bar area at the holiday park which exposed live damaged electrical wires and made the scene unstable. 

Somerset County Gazette:

Images show the holiday park littered with debris after the collapse. Picture - Angela McDonald

A fire service spokesman said: "The fire service along with colleagues from the Police and Ambulance attended a report of a section of ducting collapsed into the bar area of a building at the above location.

"Two fire appliances from Burnham on Sea, one from Bridgwater, a rescue appliance from Weston Super Mare and heavy rescue from Avonmouth were all sent to the incident along with Urban Search and Rescue crews from Hicksgate and Clyst St George. 

"The incident involved the collapse of approximately 40 metres of structural ducting and ceiling sections, exposing live damaged electrics and making the scene unstable. 

"Fire crews used eight high pressure airbags and small tools to establish that no persons were trapped beneath the collapse.  There were fifteen people with minor injuries, who were all assessed by Ambulance on scene.  It is believed that two of these casualties will be taken to hospital.   

"The scene has been made safe and all fire crews are now returning to home stations."

South Western Ambulance Service also attended the incident and said 18 people have suffered minor injuries in the incident and six people have been taken to hospital. 

A spokesman said: "We were called to an incident at Brean Sands Holiday Centre at 6.23pm this evening.

"As part of a multi-agency response to this incident, we sent a number of resources to the scene of the incident, including our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), two critical care teams, six ambulances and three officers.

"Eighteen patients were identified, with six needing to taken to the nearby hospital Emergency Department for a check-up or further treatment.

"The remaining 12 patients were treated and discharged at scene."

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said officers also attended the scene and said no one was trapped under the debris.

"Shortly before 6.30pm this evening emergency services were called to Brean Sands Holiday Park in Brean following reports a ceiling had collapsed inside a building," the spokesman said. 

"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 Health and Safety Executive have been informed."

Somerset County Gazette:

Images show chunks of debris left after the collapse at Brean Pontins. Picture - Angela McDonald 

Eyewitnesses said there was 'chaos' after the collapse with people 'running around and screaming'. 

Lisa Cook, 40, who is staying at the holiday park, said she was hit by some falling debris as the ceiling fell.

She said:  "I'd just bought a bingo ticket and had moved into the entertainment area.

"Something fell from the roof and scraped the side of my neck but missed my head - I'm lucky, really.

"It happened about an hour ago.

"My son had to move a table to help me, and he got dust in his eyes.

"The emergency services are here, and there was an air ambulance earlier."

Laura Robinson, who is also staying at the resort said she witnesses the ceiling fall down in the resort's club house. 

And Andrew Haughton, who is at the resort, said a large heating vent and part of the ceiling collapsed over a crowd of people. 

Were you there? Did you see what happened? Call us on 01823 365105.