A HOT air balloon crashed into a tree in a field on Sunday morning seriously injuring five people.

The basket, which was carrying 12 passengers and a pilot, was coming down to land near Dunkirk, Faversham, just before 8am when it clipped a concrete pillbox.

It was then dragged across a field before crashing into an oak tree.

Three police cars and three ambulances arrived at the scene, just off Courtenay Road, followed by two fire engines from Canterbury and a Kent Air Ambulance helicopter.

Two people had to be cut free from the wreckage by the fire crew. One, a woman, had back and neck injuries and was airlifted to the QEQM Hospital, in Margate.

The others with serious injuries were taken by ambulance to the William Harvey Hospital, in Ashford.

Seven of the passengers escaped with no injuries or minor cuts and bruises and the pilot suffered a shoulder injury. They were all taken to the William Harvey Hospital for check ups.

Two hours after the incident the seriously injured were said to be in a stable condition.

The weather conditions were described as "good for flying" and it is unclear what caused the crash.

Police are investigating the incident with members of the Civil Aviation Authority.

* Listen to Jamie Stephens's report for kmfm...