AN investigation is underway after a balcony collapsed during ‘an impromptu party’ at historic Bovey Castle in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Ten people were injured and emergency services called to the five-star Dartmoor hotel.

The incident happened around 3am on a two-metre high balcony at one of the guest lodges in the castle grounds.

An ambulance spokesman said six people were taken to hospital for non-serious injuries and four others were treated at the scene.

A spokesman for the Bovey Castle Hotel said: ‘At approximately 3am on Sunday morning a balcony on one of the guest lodges located separate to the hotel within its grounds partially collapsed, falling 2.6 metres during what we believe was an impromptu party.

‘As a result some guests were treated for minor injuries but thankfully no-one was seriously injured.

‘We are taking this incident extremely seriously and we are liaising with the relevant authorities to establish why it happened.’

A spokesman for the fire service said they were called to assist police and ambulance crews. One appliance from Moretonhampstead attended.

He said: ‘We were called to assist the incident around 4.20am on Sunday. We assisted the paramedics, made sure stretchers got into the ambulances okay, and cordoned off the scene.

‘The balcony, which had 14 people on it, fell from a height of two metres and several casualties sustained minor cuts, grazes and dislocations.’

Teignbridge District Council environmental health officers were also called to investigate.

A spokesman for the council said: ‘Our duty standby officer visited and met with hotel management and emergency services, and Devon Building Control Partnership attended to ensure the building was made safe.

‘A health and safety investigation is ongoing.’

The five-star venue, set in 275 acres of countryside, has 60 bedrooms in the castle and 22 self-catering country lodges in the grounds. It also includes a spa and award-winning 18-hole championship golf course.