THE pilot of a hot air balloon has spoken of the dramatic moment it plunged into overhead power cables on a remote hillside.

Derek Grimshaw, 63, was taking four passengers on a pleasure flight over East Lancashire when strong winds brought it crashing to earth near Hoddlesden yesterday.

Three of his passengers had to be taken to hospital after the balloon's basket hit power cables 30ft in the sky and careered into a drystone wall in Blacksnape Road.

The 40ft balloon then wrapped itself around Drummer Stoops Farm, leaving farmer Jack Greenhalgh and firefighters with the desperate task of cutting it free.

An 80-year-old man from Bury was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital with a suspected broken arm, while a woman, 24, and a 30-year-old man, both of Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley, were driven to Blackburn Royal Infirmary suffering minor injuries.

The road was closed for more than five hours in both directions at around 3pm.

Mr Grimshaw, who runs Leyland-based Suzanna Hot Air Balloons, said: "I was about to land in nearby fields when a 35mph gust suddenly blew us sideways and into the power cable.

"Everyone held on tight and bent their knees and hoped the basket would take the impact. I think someone injured their hand because it must have been out of the basket when we came down.

"We were lucky, I've only got cuts and bruises. I've been doing this for more than 20 years and flown more than 1,000 air miles -- I've never had anything like it."

The balloon set off from Bretherton, near Leyland, and had been in their air for two hours.

Police said the Civil Aviation Authority are now expected to launch an investigation.

Mr Greenhalgh, 62, also told of his shock. He said: "I was just having my dinner when I heard what sounded like a trailer coming up my drive.

"There was nothing there but when I looked out of the kitchen window I saw this huge billowing thing stuck to my house. I've never seen anything like it.

"I do see balloons going over from time to time but usually in calmer weather. We are 1,000ft up here and it was a very windy day."

Firefighters from Darwen were first on the scene, while United Utilities engineers were later called out to reconnect the damaged overhead power cable.