A kite surfer was flown to a London hospital with serious head injuries after crashing onto a beach on Sunday.

Police and paramedics were called to the Shingle Bank at Minster-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey shortly after noon.

Pictures showed patrol cars, ambulances and coastguard vehicles in attendance.

Two air ambulances were called and landed. One airlifted the injured surfer to the Royal London Hospital.

A cordon was set up to keep the public away while the incident was dealt with.

An ambulance spokesman said: "We were called shortly before midday to reports of an injured kite surfer.

"Ambulance crews attended and were joined by the air ambulance service.

"A man was treated at the scene before being airlifted to Royal London Hospital in a serious condition."

It was the first full emergency on that stretch of coast since Swale council installed controversial concrete bollards to keep motorhomes and wind-surfers' large vans off the beach.

Although the council says emergency vehicles can access the area using a special gate opposite Barton's Point Coastal Park, paramedics haven't been issued with keys.

Eye-witness Jack Carter, who ended up helping an ambulance squeeze through the tiny gap, said: "It looks like there was room in the picture but it was a very tight squeeze. In fact, it scratched that ambulance on the side.

"If the gap had been any smaller there would have been no way it was getting in. It would have had to wait for coastguards to open the emergency gate - although they were the last to arrive on the scene."

Read more: All the latest news from the Isle of Sheppey