A LIGHT aircraft overshot the runway at Headcorn Aerodrome today ending up on the road beyond it (Angela Zigler writes).

The accident happened at about 1.25pm when the aircraft, which was carrying two people - a pilot and a passenger - was taking off from the aerodrome.

An ambulance crew at the scene said that the two people on board suffered minor injuries and were very badly shaken.

In a normal take-off, an aircraft would take off before reaching the A274, which is the main road through Headcorn, but on this occasion the plane did not take off before reaching the road.

After smashing through the fence, it came to rest on the southbound carriageway of the road, which was temporarily blocked while the aircraft was removed.

Maidstone and Malling Police, two fire crews from Maidstone and the Kent Air Ambulance were all called to the scene. The road was closed while the aircraft was removed from the scene.

A police spokeswoman said air accident investigators had been informed.