A pensioner cheated death after the plane he was flying crash-landed at Southend Airport.

The undercarriage of the aircraft crumpled and the propeller was damaged during the emergency landing.

The 70-year-old pilot, who has not been named, walked away unhurt from the wrecked single-engine Beech Bonanza plane.

He was shaken but did not need treatment from ambulance crews which rushed to the scene on Friday afternoon.

Paramedic Steve Ferrant said: "We checked him over at the scene but apart from being a bit shaken he was absolutely fine."

More in today's Echo.