FIREFIGHTERS were called after a plane was forced to make an emergency landing near Fordingbridge

The incident happened this morning (Sunday, May 19) just after 10am.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said that nobody was hurt during the incident.

Fire crews from Fordingbridge, Ringwood, Redbridge and Eastleigh attended the scene and helped make the scene safe and dealt with a small spillage of aviation fuel.

The single seater Team Minimax aircraft was said to be on its way from Farley to Poole when it lost power between Hale Purlieu and Godshill near Fordingbridge.

The pilot, Mr Shepherd of Romsey, made the landing on the heather at Turf Hill, some distance from Roger Penny Way, without causing any damage to his aircraft or injury to himself.

He said: “This could not be described as a ‘lucky escape’ but a safe and controlled touch down."

The aircraft's wings were dismantled from the fuselage and firefighters brought the three sections to Deadman’s Corner by the B3078.