A CRICKLADE teenager is still seriously ill in hospital after falling 60ft from the Brunel multi-storey car park.

The 16-year-old girl is recovering in the Great Western Hospital, as reported in yesterday's late edition of the Adver.

Although serious, her injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

It is not clear whether she intended to take her own life.

Shoppers in Cricklade spoke of their shock at what had happened.

One mother-of-two, who asked not to be named, said: "It's awful, my heart goes out to the family.

"Cricklade is a close community, and I'm sure everyone will rally round the family to help.

"I hope she gets better and can rebuild her life.

"I know people have fallen from there before."

The incident at 2pm on Wednesday led traders to calls for barriers to be installed on the top of the council-run Brunel West car park.

Three people have now fallen from the building in three years.

But Swindon Council maintains that putting up barriers has not been effective in other towns.

In 2003, 29-year-old Leanne White fell to her death.

Leanne's life was torn apart by a paedophile, and she never got over the trauma.

The abuser was jailed for 15 years, but Leanne discovered he was scheduled for parole in 2005.

There were fears that this led her to jump, but an inquest found she may not have intended to kill herself.

The teenage girl was spotted by a passer-by standing at the top of the car park, which is above Swindon's covered market hall.

Shop staff rushed to offer what help they could, and tried to comfort her.

Boots pharmacists Fiona Eveleigh and Emma Hughes reassured her until the ambulance arrived.

Traders at the covered market say children throw rocks and bricks from the top of the car park.

Tamash Lal