Six people were injured when part of a shopping centre roof collapsed.

Customers using the Middleton Grange shopping complex in Hartlepool, Teesside, had to run for cover whene large sections of the ceiling and part of a water main fell in on them.

Fire crews and ambulance paramedic teams rushed to the centre to deal with the injured. At this stage it is not thought any of the injuries are life threatening.

The centre was evacuated and has been sealed off and structural experts are being called in to investigate what caused the fall in.

It is understood that a new water main had recently been installed between the ground and first floor of the building and that this may have collapsed.

One eye witness said: "There was a loud bang and some of the roofing structure came down followed by lots of water.

"It looked as though there had been some kind of burst and the weight of the water may have caused the roof cladding to fall. "Some people may have been hit by debris but no-one appeared to be badly hurt because they were walking round. It looked more like cuts and bruises."

A spokeswoman for Tees and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirmed three ambulances had been called to the incident to deal with the casualties.

She added: "At this stage we are treating the injured but we do not know the extent of their injuries."

A Cleveland Fire Service spokeswoman said the centre had been evacuated after part of a water main and ceiling collapsed.

She added: "The centre has been sealed off for safety reasons and we are investigating what caused the collapse."