A member of the Tigers Freefall Team suffers a bumpy landing. Picture: Paul Amos

A parachutist is in hospital with a suspected broken thigh after suffering a hard fall at the Dover Military Tattoo.

Members of the Tigers Freefall Team were taking part in the opening of the event, organised to celebrate the Queen's diamond jubilee last night.

Thousands of spectators saw the male parachutist fall onto the parade ground at the former Connaught Barracks after jumping from a plane above the venue.

Several of the parachutists appeared to make fairly hard landings, but while the rest of his colleagues got to their feet, he laid on the ground motionless.

St John Ambulance volunteers immediately went to his aid, but it was some time before they were able to stabilise him and lift him onto a stretcher.

He was taken to the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, and as the crowds left at the end of the tattoo they were told it was thought he had broken his thigh.

The Band of The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment performs at the Dover Military Tattoo. Picture: Paul Amos

The rest of the programme went without a hitch, except for one member of the White Helmets motorcycle display team from the Royal Corps of Signals who collided with a security fence and fell off. He quickly clambered back onto his machine.

The event included massed bands of the East and West Kent Sea Cadets, the Band of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, the Tonbridge School Combined Cadet Force, the Band of the Adjutant General's Corps featuring Gary Chilton from The Soldiers, and the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas and the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles.

The 3rd Battalion of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment gave an infantry demonstration.