The pilot of a light aircraft which had to make a crash landing was praised by firefighters today.

Four crews were put on emergency stand-by after hearing that the Cessna with two people on board was in trouble a minute after taking off from Southend Airport.

They rushed to the aid of Harry Page and his passenger as the plane touched down safely in a field next to Cherry Orchard Lane, Rochford on Sunday. The pair scrambled from the ditched aircraft and told the firefighters they were shocked but unhurt.

Leading firefighter Tony Vickress from Leigh station said: "The pilot radioed that he believed the plane had engine trouble and he had to make an emergency landing.

"He handled the plane excellently. We turned up with resuscitation equipment expecting the worst but were delighted to find the two uninjured and the pilot taking steps to turn the fuel off and make the plane safe.

"He told me he had been flying for 25 years and is obviously very skilful as the incident could have been a lot worse."

Mr Page is a member of Willow Air Flying Club based at Southend Airport. A club spokesman said he had hired the plane for the afternoon.

"It was now being checked by an engineer. He said: "We are puzzled as to what went wrong as the aircraft had just been serviced."

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