Man dies and six injured after sign falls at Big Church Festival

Strong gusts of wind were reported in the area

According to Sussex Police, a 41-year-old man has died and at least six other people have been injured after a large sign fell at the Big Church Festival.

Police officers were called to Wiston Park, near Steyning, at about 15:38 BST on Friday.

At least six people were taken to hospital. The man who died, from Eastbourne, died at the scene.

Meanwhile the festival would be brought to a close, organisers said.

What police said about the Big Church Festival incident

Det Ch Supt Richard McDonagh said he recognised the "immense distress this will have caused people at the festival", and that officers were working to establish what had happened at the site in Washington Road.

"We're urging anyone with any information, or any relevant video footage, to please come forward," he said.

"You can report it online or call 101, quoting Operation Igloo."

The Health and Safety Executive and the local authority have been informed.

Instagram image (Big Church Festival / @bigchurchfest)

'The sign fell in the direction of the wind'

Theo Saville, who was at the festival, said a "large wooden sign" had collapsed near the entrance to a tented area. "The sign fell in the direction of the wind," he told the BBC.

People were soon afterwards told to return to their tents and an air ambulance landed.

Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs, said there had "certainly been strong gusts of wind during the course of this afternoon locally".

It follows a week of storms across England and Wales, and JOE has reported on thunderstorm warnings covering 70 areas of the UK with hail and a flood risk.

According to the Met Office, winds of up to 27mph were recorded about five miles away in Shoreham on Friday.

Big Church Festival was founded in 2009 and organisers say it is the UK's biggest Christian festival.