A man has died in a light aircraft crash on the Romney Marsh.

Police were called following a report of a concern for a missing light aircraft at about 10am.

The coastguard was alerted to aid in the search at about 10.45am, sending the search and rescue helicopter from Lydd to scour the area.

Tragically the aircraft was then found in a field in Tar Pot Lane between Ruckinge and Bilsington, not far from Ashford.

Paramedics were called and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Initial inquiries are under way to establish the circumstances and officers will be liaising with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

A Kent County Council spokesman said Tar Pot Lane is due to be closed between the junctions of Newchurch Road and Marsh Road until Monday while investigations continue.

Watch: Footage from the scene of the crash in Tar Pot Lane

KentOnline news editor Dan Wright, who was at the scene this afternoon, said: "The plane has crashed on a very secluded part of the Marsh not far from Ruckinge and Bilsington.

"It's right on the edge of a field next to a sharp bend in Tar Pot Lane; I could see just part of the white wreckage over a hedge from where I was standing.

"Police and the other emergency services have set up a rendezvous point on the other side of Tar Pot Lane. Forensic teams were there as well."

A spokesman for the AAIB could not confirm when the crash happened but said: “An accident in the Ashford area involving a light aircraft has been notified to the AAIB.

"An investigation has been launched and a multi-disciplinary team of inspectors are on their way to the accident site.”

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford