An 11-year-old boy was taken to hospital by air ambulance after injuring his neck in a sports accident at his school.

Daniel Mortimer was playing rugby on the playing fields at Salt Grammar School in Baildon when he was involved in the accident yesterday afternoon.

The Leeds-Bradford airport-based Yorkshire Air Ambulance, operated by the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (WYMAS), was mobilised and flew out to the school on Higher Coach Road at 3pm.

The boy was airlifted to Airedale General Hospital at Steeton for treatment.

Gavin Anderson, acting unit manager at Airedale General Hospital's A&E department, said the boy had suffered a soft tissue injury to his neck and had been allowed home after treatment last night.

David Senior, a governor at the school, said staff and pupils had been shocked and upset by the accident.

Mr Senior said: "It seems he was playing rugby during games when he injured his neck.

"I spoke to the head teacher at a governors' meeting last night and from what I've been told it seems to have been a genuine accident.

"There was no suggestion of any foul play or aggressive action.

"Obviously everyone's very concerned about him and just waiting for news and are hoping that the injury isn't too severe or long lasting."

A spokesman for WYMAS said: "The boy suffered a neck injury and was airlifted to Airedale General Hospital at Steeton.

"The paramedics have described it as a severe whiplash-type injury.''