It's good to be home says MEP who survived horrific light aircraft crash

The outspoken MEP suffered broken ribs, bruised lungs and facial injuries in the accident on polling day.

The plane he was travelling in was towing a UKIP banner as part of his General Election campaign, but nose-dived to the ground at an airfield in Northamptonshire.

Mr Farage used his first day since his release from the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford to catch up with concerned friends and relatives – and pay a visit to his local pub.

Speaking from his cottage in Westerham, Kent, he said: "I've been meeting local people, but I'm pretty tired after going down to the village. It's going to be a case of taking it little by little. It's good to be home, and it's good to see my children – and it's good thing I'm still around."

Mr Farage described himself as the "luckiest man alive" after managing to walk from the wreckage of the plane, having feared he would burn to death after the crash. The 46-year-old, plus pilot Justin Adams, had known for five minutes before impact that they were in an emergency situation, and that a safe landing was not possible. He was rescued from the plane, which had fuel pouring out into the cockpit, after it crashed in a field at Hinton-in-the-Hedges and taken to hospital in Banbury, before being transferred to Oxford.

Mr Farage was unable to attend the count at Aylesbury Civic Centre where Commons Speaker John Bercow, whom he had been standing against, was re-elected to his Buckingham seat.

Local residents said they were glad to see Mr Farage, who also suffered a chipped spine and damage to his sternum, and shook his hand as he walked near his home.

Jamie Newman, landlord of The George and Dragon Pub in nearby Downe, said: "Everyone was so pleased to see him, with lots of people asking how he was getting on. I think we expected him really today – we knew if he was in this part of the country he'd pop in.

"He's a very colourful character and is well-liked in the village," he added.