A BURNLEY leisure centre owner is recovering in hospital after falling from his horse at his riding stables.

Andrew Brown was on a cross-country track at the Equestrian Centre at Crow Wood Leisure, Holme Road on Wednesday when he fell from the horse and it rolled on top of him.

The North West Air Ambulance was called and Mr Brown, who suffered suspected chest, head and abdominal injuries, was taken to hospital.

A spokesman for the NWAA said he was stabilised and flown to the Royal Preston Hospital in seven minutes, a journey which would have taken over half an hour on land.

The air ambulance costs £1.3million to maintain. It receives no mainstream funding.

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