A MUM suffered head injuries after being struck by tiles falling off the roof of a Widnes supermarket.

Melanie Robinson from Widnes had 17 stitches for a serious head wound and was treated for a blood clot, broken finger and broken toe after she was left bleeding outside Aldi in Green Oaks Way.

The 52-year-old gran also sustained a black eye and several cuts and bruises.

Her family says she is lucky to be alive.

Her son Anthony said: “The whole family is just grateful that my mum has survived and we are aware that this could easily have been a tragedy.

“The scans and x-rays have been done. Thankfully it looks as if mum will make a full recovery.”

Shocked shoppers watched in horror as slates tumbled to the ground shortly after 11.20am yesterday morning.

Emma Robin-DJ Pickford posted on social media: “A huge section of roof collapsed on a poor lady’s head.

“She was covered in blood but sat up and conscious. She looked very shook up.”

Another shopper Clairey Harper said: “We witnessed a third of the roof fall onto the pavement.

“As if that wasn’t shocking enough, unfortunately a woman had been hit by the tumbling rocks and slate.

“I’ve never seen so much blood.

“It seems like she, like us, heard the noise of the roof falling and looked up as it was her head and nose and teeth which were mostly damaged.”

Joanne Hughes posted: “How lucky she wasn’t killed.”

The woman’s family is grateful to everyone who came to her aid.

Anthony added: “The staff at Aldi were quick to help my mum and sat with her whilst an ambulance took half an hour to arrive.

“The ambulance staff were brilliant and so were the police.

“We do not hold the staff in any way responsible and we are all thankful that they quickly helped my mum.”

His brother Mark added: “Although the injuries she has sustained are very serious she is OK and alive which is the main thing.

“Can I say thank you to everyone for your concern and to those who helped my mother me and our family are very grateful.”

A spokesman for North West Ambulance Trust confirmed paramedics were called at 11.22am and took a patient to Warrington Hospital with head injuries.

Firefighters arrived at 11.51am but said their help was not needed.

An Aldi spokesman said: “A woman was taken to hospital following an incident outside our Widnes store on Monday morning.

“We immediately launched an investigation into what happened and are now working closely with the relevant authorities.”

The store was evacuated and closed for several hours before re-opening yesterday evening.

A Halton Council spokesman said: “An investigation is underway in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.”