Five hurt as steel canopy collapses at Abraham Darby Academy

AN URGENT probe was under way this afternoon into the collapse of a huge school canopy in Telford which left five workers injured – four seriously.

The accident happened at the new £35 million Abraham Darby Academy.

The steel structure crashed 40ft to the ground at 4.30pm yesterday after supports gave way, leaving mangled metal and debris strewn around the area.

The new building is set to house more than 1,400 children but its planned opening date of January may now be delayed.

However, principal Steve Hawke this afternoon said he was hopeful that the existing academy would "open as normal when the new term starts in September"as it is separate on the site.

The injured were pulled from the wreckage by fire and ambulance crews after large sections of the canopy came down at the site in Madeley.

Interview with eyewitness Janet Smith

Interview with John Das Gupta of the Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service

Yesterday, bricks continued to fall from the building in the minutes after the collapse and windows which had been pulled loose were left swinging in the wind. Four people were taken to hospital with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries while a fifth man was treated for minor injuries.

Ambulance officials said one man in his 40s was airlifted to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital with spinal injuries while three others were taken to Telford's Princess Royal Hospital with leg, chest and abdominal injuries.

One possible theory is that a large steel pillar, which was holding one end of the canopy up, buckled under the weight. Nearby residents said they heard a large bang as the canopy fell.

One, who did not want to be named but whose daughter is due to go to the school in January, said: "It was like a bomb going off. We are all shocked because it was looking like such a nice building."

The drama unfolded just hours after scores of students visited the current school on the same site to pick up their GCSE results.

Police sealed off Ironbridge Road, which stayed closed today and Arriva was told to redirect bus routes. It is not known when the road will reopen.

Jane Mason, a spokeswoman for contractors Kier Group, said no-one was working on site today.

Health & Safety Executive investigators were this afternoon trying to establish what happened.

Officials said it was too early to say if the new academy would be ready for January as planned.