A POLICE investigation was underway on April 28, 2013, after five people, including a number of children, were rushed to hospital when high winds blew an inflatable slide 160ft across a packed car boot sale.

Onlookers watched in horror as the children's attraction flew across the site at Ripley Cricket Club, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Witness Chris Norton, from Harrogate, said: "I saw it from a distance and the speed and height terrified me. I hope everyone is okay. The wind was vicious."

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Other witnesses reported seeing the slide being lifted by the wind, knocking some people to the ground.

Five ambulances and a rapid response vehicle were called to the scene shortly after 10am and took four of the injured to Harrogate District Hospital, while another patient was taken to Leeds General Infirmary.

Protestors marched through the streets of a town on Saturday, April 29, 2013, calling for an end to austerity cuts.

Tees Valley Public Services Alliance held a march and rally in Middlesbrough to draw attention to the impact of Government cuts on Teesside.

The town’s Labour MP, Andy McDonald, led the rallying cry after union supporters assembled at Albert Park before marching along Linthorpe Road to Centre Square.

Addressing the crowd, he said: “Councils in the North of England have been the hardest-hit. Middlesbrough Council, for example, is expected to cut over 30 per cent of its budget, losing some £63m and rising over the life of this Parliament, with more than 1,200 job losses."

Tour de France fever was sweeping the Yorkshire Dales with cyclists keen to tackle the route of the legendary race.

Cyclists are venturing out to try the route of next year's Grand Depart, including bed and breakfast owner Nigel Mould, who took two friends from Cambridge around part of the course.

Mr Mould, who runs Grove House, in Leyburn, led the riders from Kettlewell over the two major climbs to Swaledale and back to Leyburn.

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Tour de France fan Mr Mould has previously ridden several versions of L'Etape du Tour in France.

He said that although he found the route challenging, cyclists familiar with the Alps and Pyrenees should have no problem with the Dales.

"I think it's just going to get bigger and bigger the closer we get to the event, " said Mr Mould.