MODEL aircraft flying is to be banned on Dartford Heath following the death of a teenager in a tragic accident earlier this year.

Tara Lipscombe, 13, of Wilmot Road, Dartford, died from severe head injuries when she was hit by an Acrowot plane piloted by Alan Ives on April 15.

Since Tara's death, Dartford Borough Council - which is responsible for the management of the Heath - has imposed a voluntary ban on model aircraft flying.

But at the lastest meeting of the full council, members voted in favour of revoking the section of the existing Dartford Heath Common Byelaws that permit model aircraft flying.

They agreed that model aircraft flying should instead be banned altogether on the heath. The existing byelaws were introduced in 1997.

The changes will have to be approved by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and other interested parties will be consulted. The current voluntary ban on flying will continue until the new byelaws are approved.

An inquest in November into Tara Lipscombe's death heard that she died after being struck by a model aeroplane built by an inexperienced aircraft enthusiast. A verdict was accidental death was recorded.