THERE was a lucky escape for a couple of guests at Gidleigh Park Hotel, after their helicopter crash-landed in the grounds of the hotel near Chagford on Monday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the hotel at around 3.35pm following reports of the crash, and concerns about large amounts of fuel onboard.

The pilot and his passenger, guests at the hotel, were flying back to dine at the hotel restaurant, run by celebrity chef Michael Caine, when the helicopter missed the helipad and landed on its roof.

The two people on board were later treated by an ambulance on the scene for head and jaw injuries, but escaped serious injury. They were later taken to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Devon and Somerset Fire Service sent two crews, one from Chagford and one from Moretonhampstead, to attend the scene. Upon arrival the two passengers were free from the helicopter.

The aircraft was made safe using a hose reel jet and foam. Fire crews disconnected the ignition system and stemmed a fuel leak using an Environment Agency pack. The Environment Agency was made aware of the incident.

The accident will be investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and the Civil Aviation Authority.

The hotel itself was undamaged by the incident.