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Costa Coffee under investigation by Medway Council after awning collapses and injures woman at Gillingham store

Coffee chain Costa is under investigation after a customer was hurt when an awning fell on her head.

The woman suffered the injuries after the cover collapsed at the cafe in Gillingham town centre.

The crowd of people outside Costa Coffee in Gillingham High Street. Picture: Bobby Lockwood
The crowd of people outside Costa Coffee in Gillingham High Street. Picture: Bobby Lockwood

Medway Council is carrying out a health and safety inquiry at the High Street branch following the incident earlier this month.

The authority confirmed a report was made to officers and are using their powers under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The incident was recorded by the council due to the requirements of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

The regulations do not cover building control rules - which the council is responsible for enforcing - so will not be investigated as part of the probe into what happened.

No other agencies are working on the investigation.

The shop awning which fell outside Costa in Gillingham High Street. Picture: Bobby Lockwood
The shop awning which fell outside Costa in Gillingham High Street. Picture: Bobby Lockwood

Witnesses reported seeing the victim bleeding from the head while staff carried out first aid.

She was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital for treatment after the incident at about 1.45pm on December 6.

Bobby Lockwood, who was walking past at the time, said: "The wooden cladding or facade also had nails poking out of it."

Costa has not responded to KentOnline's requests for comment about the investigation and the incident.

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