A CEILING collapsed at a holiday park building in Somerset injuring people inside, police said, with an investigation set to be launched.

Avon and Somerset Police said there had been minor injuries in the incident at the Pontins Brean Sands Holiday Park last night, with the ambulance service confirming it treat 18 people, with six being taken to hospital.

An investigation is expected to be launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).


READ MORE: Ceiling collapse at Pontins Holiday Park in Brean Sands


Holidaymakers spoke of their shock after the incident, which the fire service said saw 40 metres of structural ducting and ceiling sections collapse, exposing live, damaged electrics.

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.

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

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PICTURE: Andrew Houghton

Avon and Somerset Police tweeted: "Shortly before 6.30pm this evening we 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."

Police said that a search of the scene had been carried out and confirmed that no one was trapped under the debris.

The Health and Safety Executive has been informed of the incident.

The South Western Ambulance Service said on Twitter that it had treated 18 patients, with six being taken to hospital.

A statement from the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said officers responded to reports a "section of ducting collapsed into the bar area of a building" at the holiday park.

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

"Fire crews used eight high pressure airbags and small tools to establish that no persons were trapped beneath the collapse."

The scene was made safe and fire crews have returned to their stations.

Ex-new Zealand cricketer Iain O'Brien said on Twitter he had returned to the holiday park after a day-out to find "a major panic site".

"Word is, and hopefully it's accurate, no-one seriously hurt," he tweeted.

"Serious amount of emergency services here. Staff very shaken and look like they could do with a hug or two."

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PICTURE: Angela McDonald