LASHAM Airfield was put on red alert on Friday evening when a glider crashed during the early stages of a winch launch takeoff.

The ASW19 single-seater glider crashed nose first into the runway from around 150 feet. No-one on the ground was injured and no other aircraft was involved.

The pilot, Mr Steve Forsyth (47) of Ringwood in Hampshire, had to be cut out of the glider by fire and rescue crews, and was taken to North Hampshire Hospital.

He sustained multiple injuries to his legs, the exact extent of which are still not known. Mr Forsyth has been a member of the Lasham Gliding Society since March of 1992.

The crash happened at approximately 7-30 pm and a call was made to the emergency services at 7-36 pm. Four police officers and one ambulance attended, along with two fire appliances with full fire and rescue crews.

Pc Simon Eager, one of the police officers at the scene said: "It looked as if the aircraft had climbed too steeply and lost speed. It dipped a wing, and came down on its nose from about 150 feet, coming to rest the right way up".

The incident is currently under investigation by British Gliding Association representatives in conjunction with the Accident Investigation Branch of the Department of Transport, The Civil Aviation Authority and local police. The exact cause of the accident is still to be determined.