A light aircraft pilot died when his plane crashed in a field near Walkern yesterday police have confirmed.

Police, ambulance and fire crews went to the scene of the crash at Newell Lane in Luffenhall, near Walkern, following reports that a light aircraft had come down in a field shortly after 10am.

Police confirmed this morning that a man in his 70s from Welwyn Garden City was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

It is not yet known if the crash caused his death.

Newell Road was temporarily closed for the aircraft to be recovered.

Officials from the Air Accident Investigation Board were at the scene to investigate and will prepare an official report on the cause of the crash in due course.

A resident who lives in nearby Cromer told the Comet: “I was in the bedroom when I heard the thud I looked out but couldn’t see anything, the next thing there were fire engines, ambulance cars and police all racing up the lane and they closed off our road.

“My husband went to the top off the field and walked along the top and saw the plane, the air ambulance was called. The plane had come now nose first and hit the ground like that.

“Accident investigators spent a long time there before taking the plane away.”