Man arrested after car careers into marquee during party at farm in Nether Wallop

The scene of the party

Emergency services were alerted following the incident at a farm late on Saturday night.

Eight of those injured in the incident were described as seriously hurt by police.

It happened at Dene Farm in Nether Wallop and police were called at 11.16pm

All those hurt were assessed by a doctor at the scene and none of the injuries are currently described as life threatening, say Hampshire Police.

All but one of those who were taken to hospital have no been released, with the remaining casualty suffering from serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

An eyewitness at the event described how the crash unfolded.

He said a car was stuck outside the marquee and he saw it reverse back and go forwards several times before it went ploughing through the marquee.

He said: "The car reversed and then went forward and all of a sudden it went straight through the tent.

“It caught the table nearest the entrance way hitting lots of people on the dance floor, and it took another five tables out.

"There was at least 12 people on the ground being treated. People were screaming and my wife saw one chap go straight over the bonnet of the car.

“He wasn't going fast, the car was going around 15 miles per hour; it was not like he roared through.”

The witness said the car was just feet away from hitting the table he was sat on.

Immediately he went outside and saw a lady phoning the police, but she did not know where the event was, so he took the phone off her and gave police directions.

He added: "If you can imagine a bomb going off it was like that, there were tables, chairs, cutlery everywhere there was blood on the floor and people were being covered in blankets.

"There were already doctors at the function treating people."

He said there were at least 350 people at the event.

Hampshire police say they do not have a confirmed breakdown of ages or genders of those injured at this time.

A man, believed to be in his late sixties, has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving. He has been released on bail until November 6.

Police remain at the scene and have been supporting the ambulance service.

A spokesperson for South Central Ambulance Service ksaid they received a 999 call at 11.07pm.

She added that the service sent eight ambulances to the scene - six from South Central Ambulance Service and two from the South West Ambulance Service.

They also despatched their hazardous area response team and three extra officers to deal with the incident.

The spokesperson said that eight casualties were taken to hopsital, although the nature of their injures was not known.

Three patients were taken to Salisbury District Hospital, two to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, one to the North Hampshire Hospital, in Basingstoke, and two were taken to Southampton General Hospital.

Officers from Hampshire Police Roads Policing Unit are leading an investigation into the circumstances leading to the collision.

They have been speaking with many of those attending the private party.

Anyone with information which could assist the investigation should call 101.