Thirty Casualties After Roof Of London's Apollo Theatre Collapses

Thirty people are reported to be injured after the roof of London's Apollo Theatre has collapsed during a performance.

The theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue was playing to a packed audience for the evening performance of The Curious Incident Of The Dog in the Night-time.

It has been reported that the entire dome fell on members of the audience seated in the stalls of the theatre.

Amy Lecoz, who was at the theatre with her two children, aged 16 and 19, told the BBC: "The entire dome roof fell down on the audience just in front of us. "We were protected by the balcony above and we ran. People started screaming. You could see everyone ran off the stage... it went dark".

"We thought it was water... We thought it was a part of the show. I grabbed my kids and ran."

The theatre "suddenly went dark" with "dust clouds everywhere", she said.

An eyewitness said she heard "a crackling" noise before the collapse at about 20:15.

London Fire Brigade and emergency services were reportedly at the scene within minutes of the incident occurring with eight fire engines attending.

The Metropolitan Police have said they were "aware of a number of casualties".

Witnesses described scenes of panic and distress as they saw people being leaving the building, covered in dust and debris, others with bloody faces and in shock.

London Fire Brigade report that 700 people were in the audience and all trapped casualties have been safely removed from the scene of the incident.

Constructed in 1901,The Apollo Theatre is in the heart of London's theatreland.