Woman is badly hurt as metal panel comes loose

A woman suffered serious head injuries when metal fencing around a town centre construction site came loose in high winds and struck her.

The woman, aged in her 50s, had been standing by a stop at the bus station next to the Tesco car park in Kidderminster when the panel, measuring about 6ft by 7ft, came loose.

Paramedics and police were called to the bus station, next to the historic Piano Building, which is being converted into an education academy, at around 1.30pm yesterday.

Passers-by helped pull the metal from the woman, from Kidderminster, so paramedics were able to treat her when they arrived at the scene. The air ambulance from Cosford was immediately called and the woman, who has not been identified, was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service today said the injury was "serious".

The air ambulance landed in the centre of the bus station and roads nearby, including Castle Road and Corporation Street, were sealed off by police, causing traffic to build up in the town centre.

West Mercia Police said officers had taken statements from witnesses and the matter had now been handed to the Health and Safety Executive, who would be investigating.

Police spokesman Dylan Evans said: "A woman had been standing near to the bus stop when fencing around a construction site had come loose. She had been assisted by members of the public who helped get the metal off her."

Mr Evans said it was not known what had caused the fencing to come loose, although it happened during windy weather. Roads had reopened after an hour.

A bus driver, who did not wish to be named, said: "I could see a woman on the floor in the corner of the bus station and I was told she was hit by a piece of fencing."

The £6.1 million education and training centre is being created in the Piano Building, for Kidderminster College and Birmingham Metropolitan College.