A woman was in a serious condition in hospital today after her paraglider crashed into a tree.

Eyewitnesses said the 35-year-old woman's canopy failed as she was gliding above the Fulking escarpment near Brighton.

She fell to the ground and collided with a tree.

She was airlifted to hospital by police helicopter after being given emergency first aid at the scene by a motorcycle paramedic.

The accident happened at the popular gliding spot between Poynings and Fulking yesterday at 1.50pm.

The woman was flown to the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath with hip, pelvic and jaw injuries.