MICROLIGHT pilot Martin Jady had to crash land into a field at Manton, near Marlborough, on Tuesday afternoon after suffering problems with his aircraft.

It is believed that Mr Jady, who usually flies out of an airfield in nearby Clench Common, decided to try and land on an airstrip owned by P & M Aviation near the Elm Tree Industrial Estate.

But he narrowly missed the landing strip and his Cyclone AX2000 microlight came to a standstill on nearby grassland.

Mr Jady, and his male passenger believed to be his father, received back and chest injuries on impact with the ground.

Fire, police, ambulance and the air ambulance were sent to the scene just before 4.30pm.

Robin Kraike assistant design engineer with P & M Aviation, said: "The first we knew about the accident was when the emergency services started turning up. We went running out and I saw the two men being put on stretchers and taken to the ambulances.

"The microlight was not on the airstrip itself but on a field next to it. I know the pilot and he would have been aware of our airfield.

"It is likely he suffered some sort of mechanical malfunction and was trying to land here. They had not radioed ahead to us which would have been expected for a normal landing

"Our thoughts are now with the two men and we hope they make a speedy recovery."

A spokesman for Wiltshire police said: "Shortly before 4.30pm on Tuesday a light aircraft crashed into a field in Manton near Marlborough. The two men on board the aircraft were taken to hospital via land ambulance but are not believed to have life changing injuries.

"One had a chest injury, the other a back injury. Officers attended the scene and are liaising with the Aviation Authority. The circumstances surrounding the collision are not yet known but will be subject to investigation.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact Wiltshire Police on 101."

A spokesman for Great Western Ambulance Service said that a fast response ambulance car, two ambulances and the air ambulance helicopter were sent to the scene.

She said: "We did not know how serious the accident was but fortunately the air ambulance was not needed."

The two men were taken to Great Western Hospital, Swindon.

Fire crews from Marlborough and Pewsey were also sent to the crash scene.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service said: "We were called to Bath Road, Manton at 5.04pm to a light aircraft crash.

"The two people on board were already out when we arrived and were taken to hospital. Two crews attended, from Marlborough and Pewsey – we had also mobilised the heavy rescue unit from Trowbridge but it was turned back as no extrication was required."