EYEWITNESSES have told how a glamorous private charity function in a Hampshire village turned into a horror scene after a car ploughed through a marquee injuring 14 people.

The terrifying incident at Dene Farm close to Nether Wallop, north of Romsey saw a white BMW leave behind a trail of destruction, writes Michael Carr.

The carnage happened at the popular NW Hamper Ball late on Saturday night.

A 66-year-old man from Salisbury, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit He has been bailed to appear at Basingstoke Police Station on November 6.

Eyewitnesses spoke of how the horror unfolded, one described the car knocking people over like skittles on a bowling alley.

One said he saw the driver of the car that hit the marquee was trying to make his way out but was struggling to get his vehicle out of a 'tiny gap' moments before the crash.

He said: "The car reversed and then went forward and all of a sudden it went straight through the tent.

ADVERTISING “It caught the table nearest the entrance way hitting lots of people on the dance floor, and it took another five tables out.

"There was at least 12 people on the ground being treated. People were screaming and my wife saw one chap go straight over the bonnet of the car.

“He wasn't going fast, the car was going around 15 miles per hour; it was not like he roared through.”

The witness said the car was just feet away from hitting the table he was sat on.

He added: "If you can imagine a bomb going off it was like that. There were tables, chairs, cutlery everywhere there was blood on the floor and people were being covered in blankets.

"I saw two or three people down and one man was in a very bad way with blood coming out of head."

"I asked people to stay calm and stay in your seats and not to panic. There was screaming going, there were people running around not knowing who was injured."

Another person at the ball, said: "It went from the nicest evening to the worst in a split second.

"We were right over in the furthest corner we did not see anything but there was a commotion and everyone rushed forward to see what was going on, at first we thought there was a fight and then someone said that a car had come into the entrance.

"Everything was on the floor, tables cutlery and people, there was screaming and shouting it was total chaos."

"There was a lady on the stage trying to keep everyone calm and asked people to leave to allow access for the emergency services."

We used the tablecloths for the injured and the emergency services of around 14 ambulances and police cars were there within 10 minutes amazingly considering the party was so remote."

A retired gentleman who was at the party said he had been told one woman remained in hospital with two broken ankles.

Some 300 guests were in attendance on tables of ten where revellers were invited by the farmer Nigel Pond to bring their own food and drink.

The Unofficial Nether Wallop’s Entertainments Committee (UNWEC) organised the event but refused to talk to the Chronicle.

It is understood the ball was to raise money for the village.

Many people Nether Wallop closed ranks as the incident sent shock waves through the village, with many people refusing to comment on the incident.

A spokesperson for South Central Ambulance Service said they received a 999 call at 11.07pm.

The service sent eight ambulances to the scene - six from South Central Ambulance Service and two from the South West Ambulance Service.

They also despatched their hazardous area response team and three extra officers to deal with the incident.

The spokesperson said that eight casualties were taken to hospital, and all but one have been released.

Three patients were taken to Salisbury District Hospital, two to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, one to the North Hampshire Hospital, in Basingstoke, and two were taken to Southampton General Hospital.

All but one of the casualties have been released from hospital. The remaining casualty has serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

Officers from Hampshire Police Roads Policing Unit are leading an investigation into the collision which happened on Saturday night.

Anyone with information which could assist the investigation should call 101 quoting 44150344089.