Plane crashes in back garden

The Cirrus single-engine aircraft, which was being flown by a 76-year-old man, crashed into trees in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

The pilot, from London, was uninjured. Ambulance services said it was lucky that no one else had been hurt.

John Oliver, spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “We received 12 calls to the scene at around 11am.

“The sole occupant of the plane was not injured.

“We arrived at the scene to check the pilot.

“He refused to be taken to hospital for further checks. He was very lucky. It was also lucky that no one else was injured, given where the pilot came 
down. There could have been a lot of casualties.”

The homeowner’s son, Jamie Greeff, 16, told the BBC: “We 
have building work going on 
next door and all the builders were yelling, and I just thought it was building equipment.

“The next thing I know my 
dad is yelling at me that a 
plane has crashed into the garden. And then I look out the back and there is this plane in the trees and the pilot was yelling that he was all right.”

A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire Police said: “Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service have attended and neutralised fuel on board the aircraft and are ensuring the area is safe.”