TWO fliers suffered broken legs after crashing only a half a mile and two hours apart.

A hang glider crashed into the hillside at Howgate Edge, Hawes, in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, on Saturday, followed by a paraglider in the same area.

The accidents took place at a popular paragliding spot near Busk Farm, on Beggar Man's Road, south of Hawes.

Emergency rescue crews were sent from Hawes, Leyburn, Ripon and Reeth.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "A hang glider came down at 1.45pm and collided with an electricity pylon as it landed.

"The pilot was not trapped, but was injured and had a suspected fractured leg and was taken to hospital.

"Then, at 3.15pm, a second pilot lost control of his paraglider and crashed onto the craggy hillside.

"This unfortunate pilot was taken by air ambulance to hospital also with a suspected broken left leg."

The identity of neither man is known or the names of their flying clubs.

The first pilot, said to be in his 30s, was taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and the second, believed to be in his 50s, to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

The site where the two accidents happened is a popular haunt for both para and hang gliders.

But it is an isolated spot and not easily accessible, meaning anyone injured could lie unseen and be without aid for several hours.

A large team of hang gliding and paragliding enthusiasts has been in the Hawes area over the Bank Holiday weekend.

John Edmonds, membership secretary for the Dales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club, said accidents were rare.

He said: "There is an element of risk, but pilots know the first person to get hurt will be them.

"People go through rigorous training to be able to deal with unusual circumstances."

He added: "Most people carry a reserve parachute, so if their main one fails they have an emergency shute.