Worship halted as seats collapse
An investigation has been launched into the collapse of grandstand seating at a religious festival which left four people seriously injured.
The temporary fixture had been erected inside a marquee for the five-day Grapevine festival, on the Lincolnshire Showground, near Lincoln.
But during a session of prayer and singing yesterday, a small section of the grandstand gave way and left four people needing hospital treatment for serious injuries and 12 for minor injuries.
Brian Keel, information manager for the Grapevine Celebration event, said what caused the collapse remained a mystery but an investigation was under way. He added: "People were involved in worship when it was happening.
"There was a senior police officer in the venue and he took control in less than a minute.
"He took over the evacuation of the marquee so the effected areas were evacuated first.
Lincolnshire Police said the 5,000-capacity marquee in which the seating was erected was close to full when the incident happened.
Insp Dick Holmes said the Health and Safety Executive would launch an investigation.