Three spectators were injured at a speedway event when two motorbikes flipped out of control and flew into the crowd without their riders.

A 14-year-old girl was taken to hospital suffering from serious head injuries following the crash at the home of Berwick Rangers Football Club, in Tweedmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, on Saturday night.

A 16-year-old boy received injuries to his collarbone and another male spectator was also injured. Both were treated at the scene after police shut down the event.

The speedway event was a crucial meeting to decide who would take the Premier League title between the Berwick Bandits and the Isle of Wightlink Islanders.

A statement on the Berwick Bandits website said that the event took a "shocking turn" after the motorbikes of two riders, Berwick Bandit Scott "The Scud" Smith and Islander Paul Fry, became locked soon after the tapes went up at the starting line.

"They locked machines going into the opening bend, leaving the pair unable to control the outcome," the statement said.

"With both machines at full-bore, they smashed headlong into the first bend fencing, shattering the barrier to smithereens, sending Smith deep into the no man's land area, and the machines kept on going, flying over the remains of the fence and into the supporters' area."

Fry landed 50 feet away from the track and suffered a torn knee ligament and two broken toes. Smith escaped serious injury but was in shock following the crash.

Berwick promoter Peter Waite said: "Above everything else, we at Berwick Speedway have injured fans and their families are uppermost in our minds and we wish them all the very best for a very swift recovery."

The injured supporters are understood to be from the Berwick-Upon-Tweed area.

A Northumbria Police spokesman confirmed the accident was under investigation and that health and safety issues would be examined.