A PERSHORE teenager is in hospital after falling 40ft from a lighting gantry at a Tewkesbury theatre.

The 17-year-old girl, who has not been named, suffered suspected spinal injuries when she fell through ceiling panels and on to seats at The Roses Theatre, in Oldbury Road, at about 12.12pm yesterday. The road was closed for about half an hour while the County Air Ambulance took the girl to hospital.

She was taken to Cheltenham General Hospital where her condition at 3.45pm was said to be comfortable.

Robert Hamlin, theatre director, said the girl was a part-time member of the theatre's stage crew, rigging lights for Wednesday night's Dream Concert, a performance for children.

He said: "At the moment we're in the aftermath of a terrible accident."

Tewkesbury Borough Council's director of community services, James Kelly, said the council would be investigating the accident.

He told the Journal: "We want to interview the girl when it is possible and will be making recommendations for the appropriate action.

"We are satisfied the right steps have been taken for other staff to use the lighting gantry.

"The ceiling has also been checked to allow the show to continue in safety.

"We don't want to see a repeat of this, we want to make sure everything that can be done will be done to stop this happening again."