Gliders collide above Newmarket

A glider pilot has been talking about his incredible escape after a mid-air collision over Suffolk. Emma Baker reports.

Around 50 gliders are getting ready to launch for Day 4 of national gliding competitionat Cambridge Gliding Club.

The event continues despite one pilot's lucky escape yesterday in Newmarket.

Air crash investigators are looking into what caused a mid-air collision between two gliders flying over Suffolk yesterday.

One pilot parachuted to safety following the incident. The other managed to land his aircraft at Snailwell near Newmarket. Neither men were seriously injured.

Two pilots had a lucky escape after their gliders were involved in a mid-air collision over Newmarket.

Emergency services were called to the incident at just after 4pm this afternoon after witnesses reported seeing a parachutist coming down above the Snailwell Road area of Newmarket.

One pilot is unaccounted for and another has parachuted to safety after two gliders reportedly collided, police said today.

A force spokeswoman said they understood there had been a glider competition taking place in the area when they were called to the scene shortly before 4pm.

Two gliders are reported to have collided in the skies above Newmarket.

Police were alerted to the collision after witnesses reported seeing a parachutist coming down above the Snailwell Road area of Newmarket just after 4pm today.

Suffolk police say both gliders are believed to have been found over the border in Cambridgeshire. The whereabouts and condition of the pilots is not yet confirmed.

Emergency services are on the scene and air traffic investigators have been informed.