A WOMAN had a lucky escape when a huge shop sign fell on her in a busy Bournemouth town centre as she was out on her lunch hour.

Horrified onlookers outside tReds, in Old Christchurch Road, said they heard screaming as the shoe store’s metal black, red and white logo, around 15 feet long by five feet high, hit the victim on the head as she walk past.

Shocked shoppers and workers rushed to help the woman, aged around 60 years old, propping her up against the shop window as the drama unfolded.

Paramedics were on scene offering treatment for minor head injuries within three minutes of a 999 call from a man on a mobile phone at 1.15pm.

Shopper Laura Tcertcvadze, 35, from Bournemouth, said: “It suddenly just collapsed on her.

“Everyone ran to help. It must be so heavy, it could have killed anyone.

“She’s lucky to be alive.”

Hassan Safaee said: “It fell on her head and then the side of her shoulder.

“She gave out a scream.”

Another passer-by said: “I was just walking along and then there was a tremendous noise as the sign came right off.

“I feel sorry for the poor lady, she must have been in quite a state.”

Staff dragged the sign into the store and closed up just before 1.30pm.

tReds declined to comment on the lunchtime incident, and the shop re-opened later.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said the woman’s injuries were not considered serious.