London - Council chiefs were accused of risking another Hillsborough disaster after a free concert they organised descended into chaos.
More than 60 people were injured when thousands of fans broke through security fences and stormed the Christmas lights switch-on event in Birmingham.
One woman suffered multiple crush injuries and three others needed hospital treatment.
Birmingham City Council had expected between 15 000 and 20 000 fans to turn up on Saturday - but closer to 30 000 arrived.
The chaos began as the opening act, X Factor runners-up JLS, came to the end of their performance.
As those left outside the square battled to get in, two sections of temporary perimeter fencing gave
way, leaving scores injured.
Others were trapped towards the front of the stage when the crowd pushed forward, pinning them
against barriers. Children were seen being passed over the heads of fans to safety.
When the event was called off soon afterwards, angry fans began throwing bottles, cans and coins and fights broke out.
Local Labour Khalid Mahmood said the council should have made access to the event ticket-only.
"In the end, we are very lucky not to be dealing with a real tragedy. This could have been another Hillsborough," he said.
Mahmood was referring to the 1989 football stadium disaster where 96 Liverpool supporters were crushed to death.
As well as JLS, the concert was to feature 13 artists including the Sugababes and Natalie Imbruglia.
Grace Ingram, from Birmingham, said she and her friend fell to the ground in the surge and were trodden on by the crowd.
She added: "We all went down like dominos. The event was so badly organised. We all knew it would be packed because of JLS, so why didn"t the police know that?"
West Midlands Ambulance Service said one woman in her 30s suffered serious crush injuries to her
pelvis, shoulder and leg, while another suffered a broken ankle.
A teenage boy fractured his wrist, while a girl in her teens suffered crush injuries to her back and legs.
Steve Hollingworth, the council's sport and events assistant director, said similar events had been held before without any problems.
"The fence was fine, it was the pressure of people outside the perimeter fence that was the issue," he said.
JLS said they were "devastated" that fans were injured.
In December, five girls were injured when JLS performed at a free concert in Croydon and more fans than expected turned up. - Daily Mail
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