AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a teenager was seriously injured when she fell two floors inside Bolton's Debenhams store.

The 18-year-old was rushed to hospital with injuries to her head, legs and back after the incident on Thursday night.

Police said the woman's injuries are serious but do not appear to be life-threatening.

It is believe she was on the first floor and fell to the lower ground floor.

Staff rushed to the woman's aid while they waited for paramedics to arrive.

Debenhams has now said a full investigation has been launched into the incident as they try to establish what happened.

A spokesman said: "An incident took place yesterday in our Bolton store. Staff immediately attended to a customer, who had unfortunately fallen from an escalator. Staff made her as comfortable as possible until an ambulance arrived.

"Debenhams is working with the relevant authorities to conduct a full investigation."

Emergency services were called to the store in the Market Place at around 6pm as shoppers were evacuated and the shutters were lowered.

Eyewitnesses have described the shocking scenes that unfolded.

One said: "I was on the first floor. She fell from the floors above. She was with friends around her age and maybe younger. I don't know how she fell exactly. It all happened so fast. She fell all the way down to the bottom floor. She fell backwards, not face down.

"I heard screams and banging. People thought it was gun shots at first as the banging was so loud. I think it was the girl falling and banging into things as she fell down.

"I couldn't look down. I didn't want to. But I know Debenhams staff and security were rushing past to get down."

Paramedics were called to the scene and attended to the victim before she was taken to Salford Royal Hospital.

A spokesman said the woman suffered multiple injuries and the call was treated as the 'highest priority'.

Two rapid response vehicles and an ambulance were sent to the scene.

A spokesperson for Market Place said: "We can confirm that at approximately 6pm we received reports that a woman had been injured after falling inside the Debenhams department store in Market Place shopping centre, Bolton town centre.

"The emergency services were called and the woman was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

"Debenhams was closed after the incident.

"No further details are available at this time and an investigation has been launched."

A call for a doctor was made over the Market Place's public address system.

Debenhams reopened yesterday morning and police confirmed no crime was committed.

The Health and Safety Executive said it would not carry out an investigation into this type of incident but it would be the responsibility of the local authority.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We can confirm that we are aware of the incident and we are making further inquiries.”