AN INVESTIGATION is today continuing after an inflatable slide blew over at a North Yorkshire car boot sale and left five people in hospital.

The slide was blown across Ripley Cricket Club, near Harrogate, shortly after 10am yesterday and was later seized by investigators. Witnesses said elderly people and children were among those treated at the scene.

Four of the injured people were taken to Harrogate District Hospital and one to Leeds General Infirmary.

A sixth person was also understood to have been injured but did not need hospital treatment. Several people are also believed to have been treated for shock, but the ages of those taken to hospital have not been confirmed. None of the injuries were thought to be critical.

Witnesses said they saw the slide being lifted by the wind and knocking people to the ground. Five ambulances and a rapid response vehicle were called to the scene, in Main Street in Ripley.

The Health and Safety Executive was notified and an inspector was assessing the scene yesterday afternoon alongside North Yorkshire Police. The force asked anybody who saw what happened to phone them on 101.

Carmen Williams, who was at the car boot sale, said on twitter: “There were two elderly women hurt and they were both taken to hospital”.

Another witness, Chris Norton, tweeted that there were “a few children and elderly [people] hurt”, and others said they heard screaming as the slide was blown across the site. It is believed no children were on the inflatable at the time, but that it landed on a crowd of people after being caught by gusts.

A spokesman for nearby Ripley Castle said in an online statement: “Our sympathy to all those affected by the incident at the Ripley Cricket Club car boot sale – hope those injured make a swift recovery.”

Were you at the car boot sale where the incident happened? Phone The Press on 01904 567131, email newsdesk@thepress.co.uk or tweet @yorkpress.