SANDWELL Council said it is reviewing its Christmas lights switch-ons after the Blackheath event ended in disaster with families "crushed" and one woman saying she thought her and her baby were going to die.

Around 6,000 people attended the event on Saturday (November 16), which had been scaled back to a smaller part of the High Street, after the council cut the budget.

After receiving scores of complaints from angry revellers Sandwell Council met with event organiser Walk Works CIC yesterday (Wednesday) and assured people "we and the organisers have learned lessons from the way the event was planned and organised."

But it also said: "Organisers tell us that, thankfully, there were no reports on the night from security, police or first aiders of any incidents."

People left comments on Sandwell Council's Facebook page after being upset at how the event went.

Samantha Crumpton wrote: "I actually thought me and my baby was going to die at one point!

"We were getting crushed and pushed and I looked around with no way out of the crowd.

"It was horrible and stressful and couldn’t even see the lights turn on! Terrible organisation."

Julie Ann Finch said: "My kids got stuck by the stage getting crushed. We couldn't move.

"I had to hold my seven-year-old in the air. How dare you put our safety at risk! Never again you should be ashamed of yourselves!"

After meeting with Walk Works CIC yesterday Sandwell Council issued a statement saying: “The Christmas lights switch on event in Blackheath was clearly a very popular event that was attended by lots of people.

“Organisers tell us that, thankfully, there were no reports on the night from security, police or first aiders of any incidents.

“From comments we have read, the main issue seems to have been the sheer number of people who came to enjoy the festivities.

“We want to give assurances that we and the organisers have learned lessons from the way the event was planned and organised.

“We will be reviewing Christmas lights switch on events that are planned for both this year and next year.

"We are putting measures in place to ensure future events run smoothly and can be enjoyed by everyone who attends them.”

Walk Works CIC said it had had extensive discussions with the council and concurred with its statement.

The company is also organising Cradley Heath's Christmas lights switch-on, on Saturday November 30, from 3-6pm.