A WOMAN is fighting for her life in hospital after sustaining serious injuries when her glider crashed into a field.

The 50-year-old pilot had to be cut from the wreckage by rescue crews attending the crash in North Yorkshire and she was airlifted to hospital.

A fire and rescue spokes-man said the woman, believed to be from Cumbria, sustained severe head and abdominal injuries, a broken pelvis, broken tibia and broken left ankle.

"She seems lucky to be alive," he added.

The accident happened at about 4pm on Sunday in a field by Warren House Farm, High Ellington, near Masham, while the glider was en route from Walney Island, Barrow-in-Furness to Sutton Bank near Thirsk.

The glider is believed to have nose-dived into the wheat field and the alarm was raised by a local person who saw the accident.

Fire crews attended the accident from Masham, Bedale, and Leyburn, along with an emergency tender from Ripon.

The woman was taken to Leeds General Infirmary, where yesterday her condition was described as critical.

North Yorkshire Police said the cause of the accident was not yet known, but the British Gliding Association would be undertaking a full inquiry.