AN experienced pilot had a lucky escape when his two-seater plane crashed.

The man, 44, from Rayleigh, had been flying for about half an hour at the Clacton Aero Club when he came into difficulty during landing.

Ambulance crews and the air ambulance were called to the scene after the pilot crashed into a hedge near to Clacton Golf Club at about 2pm on Christmas Eve. The pilot had been flying alone.

The man, who has not been named, was taken to Colchester Hospital for treatment for cuts.

Trevor Redburn, assistant general manager at Clacton Ambulance Station, said: “A 44-year-old man from Rayleigh has suffered a 3ins cut to his head and we took him to Colchester Hospital for a check over.”

The blue aircraft, worth around £20,000, is believed to have been slightly damaged in the accident.

Clacton Aero Club manager, Trevor Butcher, said: “It was a simple landing accident. Accidents like this are very rare. It is no different to someone going in to a hedge in a car, but it gets blown out of proportion because it is a plane.”