Madonna stage collapse kills Briton

A British man has died following an accident during preparations for a Madonna concert in France. Charles Prow, 23, was injured when part of the stage roof collapsed onto a number of crew on Thursday. A French worker was killed immediately in the accident at Marseille's Stade Velodrome - the city's main football ground - which led to the singer's planned concert on Sunday being cancelled.

Mr Prow died during the night in the neurosurgery unit at Marseille's La Timone hospital after suffering injuries in a fall of nearly 50ft (15m), a local newspaper said. Two other workers, one British and one American, remain in a serious condition, it said. It is thought the victims were on the stage while the roof was being raised by four electric winches on metal columns at the corners of the stage. Early reports suggest that one of these columns, which were held up by cranes, collapsed, causing the roof to fall.

Maurice de Nocera, the Marseille council official in charge of major events, said the collapse took place in two stages, allowing some of the 50 workers to escape injury. Police and prosecutors are now investigating the accident. In a statement on her website, Madonna, who is now on the Italian leg of her Sticky And Sweet world tour, said: "I am devastated to have just received this tragic news. "My prayers go out to those who were injured and their families along with my deepest sympathy to all those affected by this heart-breaking news."

French work minister Xavier Darcos expressed his regret at the accident, the fourth of its kind in 24 hours in France, and demanded that everything be done to establish what happened. The 40,000 people who had bought tickets for the cancelled concert are to have their money refunded.