A DEVON Air Ambulance landed on Crediton Town Square on Saturday, May 29, to attend an incident where a visitor to the town had collapsed.

When the Air Ambulance landed, and later when it took off, the grit and sand surface the square was blown in all directions.

It is believed that a number of cars suffered damage as a result of the sand and grit.

One vehicle owner, who asked not to be named, told the Courier: "My car looked as if it had been sandblasted.

"You could see the marks in the paintwork.

"I have sent in a claim for the damage."

The sandy surface was blown about so much that a Mid Devon District Council road sweeper was unable to deal with the amount of sand on roads and pavements around the square on his own.

He called in the District Council's street sweeper vehicle to help with the operation.

While paramedics from the helicopter attended to the man, many bystanders had their photographs taken beside the air ambulance.

The man who collapsed was taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital by land ambulance.

The incident has raised questions over the suitability of the site as a landing site for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust and also raised further doubts over the suitability of the Town Square surface.

alan-quick@crediton

couriernewspaper.co.uk