Two men hurt in microlight crash

Two men were seriously injured when a microlight crashed into a field in Lancashire, police said.

The small aircraft came down on land near Copster Farm off Further Lane in Mellor on Saturday evening.

Pilot John Hearle and his passenger Reginald Coar had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters and were taken to Royal Preston Hospital.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is being carried out by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB).

Lancashire Police were alerted to the accident by the ambulance service at about 1910 BST.

Significant injury

Officers arriving at the scene found the pair trapped in the wreckage.

Ambulance and fire crews were on the scene within minutes to cut the men free and take them to hospital, Lancashire Police said.

The aircraft had earlier taken off from a base at Pilling on the Lancashire coast earlier that evening.

Aircraft owner Mr Hearle, who is from Osbaldeston, suffered serious head injuries in the crash.

His passenger Mr Coar, 75, from Blackburn, is believed to have suffered significant leg injuries.

Full investigation

Lancashire Police said it was handing over the investigation to the aircraft authorities on Sunday morning.

Insp Steve Baines said: "We have been in touch with the Air Accident Investigation Branch and also the British Microlight Aircraft Association and they intend to commence a full investigation this morning."

The inspector said it was not immediately clear what caused the microlight to plunge into the field.

"I am not in a position to comment on the cause of the accident at all because due to the injuries to the people involved we haven't actually been able to speak to them," he added.