PASSENGERS narrowly escaped with their lives after the hot air balloon they were in crashed through power cables leaving hundreds of households without electricity for hours.

A group of 16 people were on board a Virgin Balloon Flight which took off from Ulverston at 5.15pm on Friday (April 4) when it clipped overhead power cables in Levens almost an hour later.

The pilot was forced to make an emergency but ‘controlled’ landing in a field as the electricity cables sparked then snapped.

All passengers escaped unhurt.

More than 400 homes were left without power until at least 11.30pm, with some still feeling the effects of the crash.

If you were on the flight or witnessed the incident and can give us any further details, or if you have any photographs, please contact the Gazette newsdesk on 01539-790252.

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