A MAN was hit by a shop sign which fell off a building in The Cross this morning.

The man was walking near the taxi rank when a Cancer Research UK sign fell on top of him at about 9.40am this morning.

Fortunately, he was using an umbrella which took the majority of the blow, according to West Midlands Ambulance Service.

The force pushed the umbrella onto his head and he was left with minor injuries from the "glancing blow".

The man, believed to be in his 60s, did not lose consciousness and was taken to his GP by ambulance.

Paul Harding, from Discover History, was coming out of Natwest bank when he saw the sign fall.

He said: "I came out of the Natwest on The Cross and the charity shop's sign by the taxi rank was hanging down.

"It's a huge sign, runs the full width of the shop.

"It was still attached but across the door and resting on the path so it must have just happened.

"An ambulance was parked up and police were cordoning off the area.

"There were two police cars and shortly after a Fire Engine arrived.

"It was a big sign, a huge piece of wood."

The sign was approximately 12ft by 4ft.

Sign maintenance staff are currently at the scene.

The shop is open today as usual.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said it would be an issue for the Local Authority or possibly even the building control.

Jane Redman, spokesperson for Cancer Research UK, said: “We are investigating an incident at our Worcester shop on Friday 3 March involving the partial collapse of a sign that caused injury to a member of the public. 

“Our priority was the health and safety of the injured person, our shop team and the public, and steps were taken to ensure these.  The sign has now been removed and we are working to identify the cause of the damage in order to take appropriate action.  

“The gentleman concerned was tended to by paramedics before being taken to his GP. We wish him a full and speedy recovery.”