FIVE PEOPLE, believed to be children, have been taken to hospital after an inflatable slide was blown away by strong winds.

A total of six people are said to have been injured after the children's attraction was lifted into the air by a strong gust of wind on Main Street in Ripley, near Harrogate at about 10am this morning.

North Yorkshire Police believe at this stage the injured were all children.

Five ambulances and a rapid response vehicle attended the scene, at Ripley Cricket Club, and took four of the injured to Harrogate District Hospital for treatment, while another patient was taken to Leeds General Infirmary suffering chest pains.

It is believed a sixth person was also injured, but did not require hospital treatment.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said: “Investigators have now seized the slide and investigations are continuing at the scene.

"The Health and Safety Executive has been informed and are also attending the scene.”

Eyewitnesses on Twitter reported seeing the slide getting lifted by the wind, knocking some people to the ground.

A statement from Ripley Castle said: "Our sympathy to all those affected by the bouncy castle incident at the Ripley Cricket Club car boot sale on the cricket ground this morning: hope those injured make a swift recovery.

"The latest information that we have been given indicates that none of the injuries are serious, thank heavens: one person being detained in hospital for observation, just to be certain."

More to follow.

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