By Rebecca Root

Young children desperately clung on as an inflatable slide took off at a car boot sale in North Yorkshire.

Four people, including two children under the age of five, were taken to Harrogate hospital while an elderly lady was taken to Leeds General Infirmary with severe chest pains.

The incident happened at 10.10am on Sunday at Ripley Cricket Club, near Harrogate. The club is part of the Ripley Castle estate which is owned privately by the Ingilby family.

North Yorkshire police have seized the slide and say an investigation into the incident is currently under way.

A police spokesman said that the Health and Safety Executive had been informed and are attending the scene.

Beth Mason, 22, was at Ripley Castle at the time of the incident. She said: “We were just standing there and the next thing the slide just blew right over. Everyone just seemed panicked but I think the main worry was if there were any children on it at the time.”

It is unknown how the inflatable managed to topple over. Katherine Root, a Harrogate Borough Council worker said that it is general policy that inflatables are anchored down but it is unknown if this one was.

Bouncy castle hire company, Ready Steady Bounce said: “While not all companies use this there is a test called a PIPA test which is an MOT for castle. It is a good idea to have this. Also British Inflatable Hirers Alliance holds inflatable owners to good standards.”