An 11-year-old boy was trapped down a 25ft ravine after he crashed during a motorbike competition and slid down an embankment.

He lost control of his bike at a motocross competition at Staplecross, near Robertsbridge, yesterday and careered down the steep embankment into the narrow ditch.

A fire brigade spokesman said the boy was unable to move from the ravine, which had a stream running along the bottom, due to a suspected fractured shoulder.

Fire crews took him on a spinal board to the Sussex air ambulance and he was flown to the Conquest Hospital, Hastings.

A hospital spokeswoman said the boy was stable.

Station Officer Jim Mahoney, of Hastings fire station, said he was impressed by the organisation of the stewards.

He said: "The boy was taking part in the dirt-track racing when I believe his throttle stuck open at the apex of a bend. He went down an embankment and into the ravine.

"Thankfully, the paramedics seemed to think he had not suffered any spinal injuries.

"The organisation at the race meeting was fantastic. The stewards were there very fast and cut steps into the embankment which made our and the paramedics' job far easier.

"When the call came in I thought the boy's injuries were going to be far worse. It appears he has been quite lucky."