PILOT Steve Laver remains in intensive care at the Great Western Hospital after last Wednesday's microlight aircraft crash at Clench Common.

Mr Laver who lives in Pewsey suffered severe leg and other injuries when the fabric-winged two-seater crashed through the asbestos roof of a barn at Culleys Farm.

Passenger Julian Davis who lives in the Bristol area had been given a flying voucher for the flight.

Mr Davis, who is in his 30s, was the rear seat tandem passenger and he was thrown clear sustaining ankle and arm injuries. He was released from hospital on Tuesday.

However Mr Laver who was piloting the Marlborough-made Pegasus microlight was sitting in the front of the aircraft and took the full force of the crash.

Mr Laver, 48, was trapped in the wreckage until fire fighters were able to cut him free.

He was airlifted in the Wiltshire air ambulance to the GWH at Swindon where he remained yesterday.

One of the police officers involved in the investigation said that while Mr Laver remained in the intensive care unit it was understood his injuries were not life threatening.

His condition was described as stable.

A team of inspectors from the Civil Aviation Authority's Air Accident Investigation Bureau visited Culleys Farm to inspect the crash scene and remove the badly damaged aircraft for more detailed examination.

The AAIB and will issue a report into the accident when its probe is completed.

Mr Laver, said colleagues, was an extremely experienced pilot who had used the Clench Common grass strip for years and in all conditions.

The flying strip is run by GS Aviation Europe owned by Graham Slater, 52, who has been at the forefront of hang glider and microlight design and competition.

GS Aviation also has flying schools in Spain and France.

Mr Slater was not available this week to discuss the aftermath of the crash which he actually witnessed.

Immediately after the crash he said: "We have been here for 16 years and nothing like this has ever happened before."

Mr Slater said he was by another microlight at the side of the grass runway when the Pegasus piloted by Mr Laver made its approach to land.

He said: "It was quite bumpy and turbulent up there. There was a strong north-easterly wind.

"At about 60-70 feet it veered right and was carried into the roof of the barn.

"It happened on the threshold of the runaway. It was caused by a freak gust of wind. It was a one-off," Mr Slater said.

The microlight crew of two were unlucky, said Mr Slater, to be blown into the barn because it was the only building anywhere close to the runway.

Marlborough is the home of hang gliding in Britain.

The town led the way when the sport first came to the county about 30 years ago when Ken Messenger set up the Birdman factory in The Parade, Marlborough.

Microlights and hang gliders are still made in the town.

Manufacturers include Solar Wings, part of Pegasus Aviation, which manufactures the flying machines in Clatford on the edge of the town and Microlights, based in Elcot Lane.