A vintage vehicle enthusiast injured in a freak accident as he prepared to exhibit at a county show has been named as north Shropshire man George Latham.

Mr Latham, 64, suffered four broken ribs after his partner, who was driving the tractor, rolled over him at the 100th Newport Show on Saturday.

The accident happened as the couple, of Warrant Road, Stoke on Tern, prepared to show their vehicle in the main arena at the Chetwynd Deer Park.

Events in the main arena came to a standstill while emergency services including an ambulance and Community First Responder were called in.

The Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford was scrambled and forced to land at the nearby Chetwynd Church because the showground was so busy.

Mr Latham was treated at the scene for chest injuries before being airlifted to the University Hospital in Selly Oak, Birmingham, after the accident at 3.45pm.

A hospital spokeswoman said today that Mr Latham was in a “stable” condition.

His partner, who did not want to be named, said: “He’s doing okay, but he’s still in hospital.

“The tractor rolled onto him as he was standing by it.

“I was driving it and I panicked when I realised what had happened.”

She said the father-of-two had suffered four cracked ribs.

She said Mr Latham, who had been exhibiting tractors with the Tern Valley Vintage Machinery Trust, was being treated by a course of painkillers in hospital and she was due to get an update on his condition this afternoon.

The display at the showground of farm machinery spanning more than 100 years continued  after an hour’s delay.