A BLACKPOOL woman was in a critical condition in hospital last night (Dec 1) after plunging 40 feet from the roof of British Home Stores in the resort.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing 28-year-old Pamela Clarke at the edge of the roof on the Church Street side of the building at around 9.15am yesterday.

She was rushed to Royal Preston Hospital with serious head injuries.

A security guard at BHS, who wished to remain anonymous, was one of the first on the scene.

He said: "A member of staff said that someone was on the roof and we went outside to have a look.

"We could see her on the edge of the roof, holding herself there, but no-one could get up to her in time.

"We stopped passers-by from walking down the street and the woman sat down on the edge of the building.

"She sat there for what seemed like five minutes before she jumped and that was that."

A member of staff at Famous Army Stores said: "We were all in the shop when it happened.

"Someone came in and said that someone was about to jump off the roof and the next thing we knew she had gone through next door's awning, ripping it to shreds.

Staff at the Country Larder, where the woman landed, declined to comment because they were still shocked by the ordeal.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward, especially if they saw the woman as she made her way to the roof.

Sgt Jim Barnes of Blackpool police said: "It was a horrifying incident and we can only hope and pray that she makes a full recovery."

"We've had a lot of people come forward who saw her on the edge of the building and as she fell.

"But we would also like to hear from people who saw her as she went up to the roof."

Anyone who can help should call Blackpool police on 293933.

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