SEASONED snowboarders and skiers competed to get into casualty at a national competition held in Dorset.

The athletes were taking part in the final of the Orange AIM National Snowboard and Ski Series, which was held at the Dorset Snowsport Centre in Warmwell.

A spokesman for Dorset County Hospital said at least four people had been taken to accident and emergency on the first day of the competition, but one onlooker described the hospital as being full of skiers.

Event organiser Jenny Ahnell said that one youngster had broken their wrist and a second competitor, James Woods, who had won the overall men's slope style competition on Saturday, dislocated his arm on Sunday.

She said that the number of injuries was 'a bit above average' when compared to the other events which were held across the country and said that at least one competitor was injured before the event even started.

"I think it was because there was such a good atmosphere, everyone was pushing themselves to the limit," she added.

"They have good facilities at the Warmwell centre and people were getting confident to go forward and get higher."

She added that those injured had a wide range of skills and experience, adding: "There was such a good standard of riders at the events and younger kids wanted to do as well as the older ones."

The series of competitions saw snowboarders and skiers performing tricks up to five metres in the air.

Jo Chastney, 20, from Christchurch, came sixth overall in a combination event and came third in the overall championship event.

Local competitor Chris Bratt, 21, from Wareham came joint 13th in the overall championships.

It was the first time the UK's top snowboarders and freestyle skiers will have descended on to the Dorset Snowsport Centre.

Some of the UK's top snowsport athletes and Olympic hopefuls have developed through the Orange AIM Series, and more than 4,000 beginners have tried snowboarding and skiing through the free lesson initiative.