A PARAGLIDER pilot had a lucky escape on Sunday, April 17, when her craft hit a telegraph pole on a roadside below the Malvern Hills.

And a spokesman for the Malvern Hang Gliding Club said the next day that members were furious at the incident because they understood the pilot was not registered with the club to fly off the hills over Malvern Wells.

The incident happened at about 6pm on Sunday, when the flyer hit the pole, off the Hanley Road, near the Three Counties Showground. The fabric of the paraglider got entangled in the pole.

The fire brigade and police were called, but the pilot was freed before they arrived. It is understood she was uninjured. A BT maintainance crew was also called out to make sure the telecommunications equipment was undamaged.

Flying off the Malvern Hills is under the control of the Malvern Hang Gliding Club, which places restrictions on who can fly from which sites.

The section of the hills above Malvern Wells should only be flown by pilots with 15 hours' experience or more, according to club rules.

Treasurer Bryan Hindle said: "We're absolutely furious about this. It was towards the end of the day and there were few people about, but this pilot should not have been allowed to fly because she did not have the hours.

"The rule is in place because people flying off this part of the hill fly over the houses and roads of Malvern Wells.

"We are very distressed by this incident, and would like to assure residents that we will be redoubling our efforts to make sure that only properly-qualified pilots fly here."