JLS 'devastated' over crowd surge

JLS released a statement on their website

Boy band JLS said they were "so, so sad" about a crowd surge at a Christmas lights switch-on event in Birmingham in which about 60 people were injured.

The surge happened as JLS performed before as many as 20,000 people at Millennium Point on Saturday. Five thousand were expected at the event.

The group said they were devastated in a statement on their website.

"We are so, so sad to see people got injured... It was meant to be a great event," said band member Marvin Humes.

"We're just gutted that everyone's day was spoilt," he added.

"It should have been a great gig with other artists like Alexandra Burke and Calvin Harris.

"We just hope that everyone who was injured has a speedy recovery."

A number of other chart acts, including Calvin Harris, Tinchy Stryder and Natalie Imbruglia, had been booked to appear at the event, but it was stopped after the chaotic crowd scenes towards the end of JLS's performance.

Organisers of the event, which was not ticketed, have faced heavy criticism.

Birmingham City Council has defended its decision to abandon the event and said an investigation had begun.