A CHAMPION balloonist fears he may be grounded after an accident wrote off his special transport.

Dr David Bareford, dubbed the "Flying Doc-tor of Cookley", became European champion for the third time in August.

But his high-flying sporting days could be over, at least for the time being, because of the accident on the Kidderminster to Stourbridge road on Thursday.

The 50-year-old former world champion lost the specially modified van he needs to transport his hot air balloon to the European Championships next year.

But he is also counting his blessings because his wife Karen, who was in the van during the crash and was rushed by air ambulance to Russell Hall Hospital in Dudley, is lucky to be alive.

Van driver Paul Wilson also escaped with bruises and cuts despite severe damage to the £20,000 vehicle.

Mother-of-three Karen Bareford said she still felt very shaken but was "relieved to be alive" and also not to have sustained a serious spinal injury as was feared.

Mr Wilson had to escape through a shattered window of the van after the collision with a car at 10.30am on the A449 at the Stewponey turning.

Mrs Bareford said: "Our van was sponsored five years ago and I can't see the sponsors forking out again. It is very upsetting to lose the van which we would need to get the balloon to Brussels again next summer.

"I also see it a bit as my baby. We have done so much work on the van such as adapting the doors and the floor. But the really sad thing is that we shall lose the mementoes to our past successes that are on the stickers.

"However, the worst thing is thinking how bad the accident might have been and how lucky we are not to be more seriously injured."

The van was being used to collect chairs purchased by Cookley and Sebright School PTA.