Fans escape as part of stadium roof collapses

United fan Mark Robinson was with his 11-year-old son Noah when parts of a section of the roof came down just inches away from them ahead of the Bristol Rovers game.

Mr Robinson was seated two rows behind the Leeds bench when the incident happened about 10 minutes before kick-off. "It was lucky no one was killed or seriously injured," he said.

"A square section of the roof fell about 100ft and smashed just inches away from our heads.

"Quite a few people in the crowd – including my son – had a very lucky escape. They'll need to fix that roof before the start of the season."

Mr Robinson, a season ticket holder from Ireland Wood, Leeds who now lives near Darlington, said the collapse had apparently been triggered by a football.

A Leeds United player kicked the ball skywards at the end of the training session, he said, and it landed on top of the West Stand roof.

"It punched a hole in the roofing material, sending pieces raining down.

"I saw something out of the corner of my eye so I put one arm over my boy. Parts of the roof crashed right next to us. There was an elderly chap in front of me who must have been brushed by a piece of the roof as it fell."

He estimated that a piece of roofing material about 2ft square had fallen in several "jagged" chunks.

Stewards and first-aiders rushed to the scene.

The incident happened at about 2.50pm just as three tenors were nearing the climax of Nessun Dorma.

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Ambulance Service said there had been no reports of any injuries. Nobody was available for comment from Leeds United.

Match report: Sports Monday.