A 16-year-old boy was rushed to hospital after crashing into a tree on his sledge.

The accident happened around 1.30pm while he was with friends at Sugarloaf Hill, off Canterbury Road, Folkestone, where dozens of youngsters were playing in yesterday’s snow.

The boy hurt his arm and neck and was taken from the scene on a spinal board. An ambulance crew and police at the scene called for help from the Kent Fire and Rescue Service to carry the boy back up the hill. He was then taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

Sgt Gerry Meers, from the Shepway neighbourhood policing team, said: “If we get any more snow and you want to have fun sledging, then please take care and look out for hazards, like objects and people and do not sledge near roads.”

The A260 Canterbury road was closed for a short time during the rescue.