Six injured after sign falls at Big Church Festival in West Sussex
Emergency services responded to a serious incident at the Big Church Festival in West Sussex after a sign fell and injured six people. The site was temporarily locked down as crews attended the scene.
Six people were injured at the Big Church Festival in West Sussex on Friday after a sign fell at the Wiston Park site, prompting a major emergency response and a temporary lockdown of the event. Sussex Police confirmed that emergency services were called to the scene just after 3.30pm following reports that a sign had collapsed and struck a number of festival-goers.
The festival, a Christian music and family event held annually at Wiston Park near Steyning, was placed on lockdown, with attendees initially unable to enter or leave the site while ambulance crews and critical care paramedics treated the injured. The extent of the injuries has not been officially disclosed, but the incident was described as serious, and multiple people were reported to have been hurt.
Organisers of the Big Church Festival issued a statement confirming the cancellation of the remaining shows for the day. The statement expressed concern for those affected and thanked emergency services for their rapid response. The festival had been scheduled to run over the weekend, with a lineup of Christian music acts and family activities planned.
Wiston Park, a large estate in the South Downs, has hosted the festival for several years, attracting thousands of visitors. The event is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and religious programming, drawing attendees from across the UK. The incident occurred on the first day of the festival, which was expected to continue through the weekend.
Sussex Police said officers remained at the scene to assist and to secure the area. The Health and Safety Executive has been informed, and an investigation into how the sign fell is expected to follow. The festival site was later reopened, but the day's performances were cancelled as a precaution.
The Big Church Festival has not yet announced whether the rest of the weekend's schedule will proceed as planned. Attendees have been advised to monitor official channels for updates. The incident has raised questions about safety measures at outdoor events, particularly regarding temporary structures and signage.
Local authorities and event organisers are likely to review safety protocols in the wake of the incident. The festival has been praised in the past for its organisation, and this is the first reported serious accident at the event. Emergency services have not released further details about the condition of the injured, but they were described as stable at the time of the response.
