Waterstones has denied a booksigning event at its flagship Piccadilly store was unsafe after visitors claimed overcrowding led to "utter chaos". The store hosted its annual BookFest celebration on Wednesday, August 6, which allows shoppers to meet authors and get their books signed.

Writers including Rosie Hewlett and A.S. Webb were among those appearing at the event, and readers were in with a chance to collect exclusive merchandise giveaways. But one of those who attended the festival claimed it was "hell on earth" and risked public safety, as an unexpected turnout of hundreds of booklovers queued throughout the building and on to the street outside.

One visitor joked on social media that they "survived" the event and an author allegedly had a panic attack as pressure grew from the lar

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