Two killed in hot air balloon crash

A man and a woman were killed when a hot air balloon crashed near a country club today, police said.

The accident occurred at around 9.30am close to the Fosseway Golf Club in Midsomer Norton, near Bath, in Somerset.

It is not believed any other aircraft was involved in the incident and no one on the ground was injured, Avon and Somerset Police said.

Emergency services were alerted to the accident at 9.47am.

"A hot air balloon crashed with two fatalities, a man and a woman," a spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said.

He added: "No other aircraft and no one on the ground was involved in the incident."

An investigation was launched by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, with a team of experts making their way to the scene.

Fosseway Golf Club said the balloon came down on grounds close to the nine hole course.

"We do not have any more information than that," a spokeswoman for the centre said.