Crews are standing down in the search for a light aircraft reported to have been in trouble flying over a village.

Firefighters and police officers were using drones to try and locate it after it was reported to have been experiencing difficulty over Charing, near Ashford, earlier this afternoon.

But the fire service service is now calling off the operation.

“No aircraft has been found following a thorough search in Charring,” said a fire service spokesman said.

“Crews are standing down.

“People are no longer advised to avoid the area.”

One resident said he saw emergency services arriving on the scene near Pluckley Road and was told “a light aircraft had crashed in field”.

A Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) also assisted in the operation, which got underway at approximately 4.23pm today (Monday).

The fire service previously said crews were to scouring an area of woodland off Pluckley Road.

Police and SECAmb have been contacted for comment.

More as we get it.