THREE people were taken to hospital after “exceptional gusts of wind” blew a tent down a hill.

Emergency services were called to Newlands Holiday Park in Charmouth on Easter Sunday after a tent collapsed and was blown down an embankment as Storm Katie battered west Dorset.

Three people including a boy were injured and taken to hospital.

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service said: “We were called to Newlands Holiday Park in Charmouth at 10.52pm.

“We were called to three casualties. We treated a woman in her 40s who had suffered a head injury, a woman in her 60s who was suffering from shock and a male, who I believe was a boy, who had injured his shoulder.

“They were all taken to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.”

Dorset Police were also called to the scene.

A police spokeswoman said: “We were called at 11.22pm on Sunday by the ambulance service, who said that a tent had blown down an embankment with people inside.

“One tent was involved and three people sustained injuries.”

West Dorset took a lashing over the weekend as strong winds and torrential downpours knocked down trees – while some homes were left without power.

PC Richard Winward, pictured, from Lyme Regis police, said: “Exceptional gusts of wind brought several trees down in the area.

“In Charmouth, three people were taken to hospital from Newlands Holiday Park when their tent blew down a bank with them inside.”

Jackie Ireland from Newlands Holiday Park said staff were thinking about the family involved following the incident.

She said: “I can confirm due to the high winds of Sunday, March 27, a tent collapsed and emergency services attended.

“Some occupants of the tent were injured and taken to hospital. Our thoughts are with the family.”

Daniel Marsh, who had been staying at the holiday park, described conditions as “horrendous”.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

Newlands Holiday Park, Charmouth

He said: “We saw all the blue lights but we didn’t really want to get involved.

“It was pretty shocking but the weather was horrendous. We were clinging on a bit, but fortunately we were all okay.

“It was a bit of a shame as we thought we would be down here for a nice Easter break. The park is great but you can’t control the weather." Luckily it has been a lot calmer since the weekend and we have been able to get some better sleep.”

Charmouth resident Tracey Monk said: “Sunday night was pretty ferocious.

“I didn’t dare go out as it was so miserable.

You often get a lot of wind in Charmouth but some of the gusts sounded incredible. I heard the emergency services up at Newlands. Hopefully no-one was badly injured.”