A falling sign has left six people injured at Big Church Fest, a major Christian gathering held near Steyning in West Sussex.
South East Coast Ambulance Service received emergency calls shortly after 15:30 BST on Friday reporting multiple casualties requiring medical assistance. Paramedics, critical care specialists and dedicated response teams were deployed to the scene at the festival site.
Festival organisers immediately halted proceedings, announcing the cancellation of Friday's programme following what they described as a "serious incident". In a statement posted to social media, they instructed all day visitors to vacate the site without delay.
"If you are camping with us, please return to your campsite and await further updates," organisers added, asking attendees to remain in place pending additional information about the situation.
Sussex Police officers arrived at the Washington Road location at approximately 15:40 and maintained a presence throughout the incident. The force warned of significant traffic congestion in the surrounding area and advised the public to use alternative routes to avoid delays.
Big Church Fest, which bills itself as the United Kingdom's largest Christian festival, attracts thousands of attendees annually. The incident marks a serious safety concern at a major public gathering, following similar emergencies at other UK festivals in recent weeks. In August 2026, three people were hospitalised after a fire and crowd surge at Ghana Party in the Park in Barnet, London, while a 17-year-old died following a medical episode at Kendal Calling festival, prompting renewed scrutiny of safety protocols at large outdoor events.
Investigators will likely examine how the sign became detached and whether existing safety measures were adequate to prevent the incident. The full circumstances surrounding the collapse remain under investigation by emergency services.
