Six Injured as Sign Falls at Big Church Festival in West Sussex

Police, ambulance crews, critical care paramedics, and specialist response teams remain on scene; Sussex Police arrived at the site off Washington Road around 15:40.

Organizers placed the festival on full lockdown, halting all performances; festival-goers received instructions to return to their tents and avoid stage areas.

Friday's show was subsequently cancelled due to a 'serious incident', organizers confirmed.

A festival-goer reported a worship tent sign blew over, striking several individuals.

The incident reportedly coincided with windy weather across the region; wind speeds reached up to 27mph nearby.

A social media user claimed a large metal support beam fell on a crowd, leaving multiple people critically injured; medical staff reportedly attempted patient evacuation via airlift.

It remains unclear if any fatalities occurred; the incident has been reported to the Health and Safety Executive and local authority.

Traffic disruption is expected, and police advise people to seek alternative routes around the area.

The festival was scheduled to run until Sunday, but the immediate future of the event remains uncertain following the collapse.