The owners of a convenience store in Stevenage’s Popple Way have expressed their shock after one of their friends was struck by the shop’s sign as it came crashing to the ground this morning.

Police and ambulance crews were called to Daniel’s Convenience Store following the accident shortly after 12.30pm today.

Seelan Daniel (pictured), whose father owns the shop, said he had been watching TV with a 29-year-old friend – when the sign came crashing down in what he described as a ‘freak accident’.

He said: “We were watching TV together and talking about football and he said he was going for a cigarette.

“The next thing I know, the sign has come crashing down and me and another customer have gone rushing out and he’s on the floor.

“We tried to help him up and put a towel to his head to stop the bleeding and we called the ambulance.

“We were so shocked, we phoned his wife straight away and took her to the Lister Hospital.

“It was just a freak accident.

“We really hope he gets better soon as he is a good friend of ours.”

It is understood the 29-year-old man was conscious and breathing when the ambulance arrived, but sustained a wound to his head.

He is currently being treated at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage.