A Pilot escaped uninjured after his aircraft overshot the runway at Clacton airfield and landed up in a hedge.

The only person on board, a 60-year-old man who has not been named, was not hurt but his Cessna 172 was badly damaged.

Police closed West Road from the Three Jays pub to the corner with Marine Parade for around an hour on Saturday afternoon.

Two fire engines from Clacton Fire Station and the rescue tender from Colchester were also called to the airfield in West Road.

For one man, the crash was the best-ever excuse for being late for work, except that no-one believed him.

Jeff Palmer, of Tudor Estate, Clacton, who works for New Possibilities NHS Trust, was on call at the weekend and on his way to an appointment when the light aircraft suddenly appeared through the hedge.

"I pulled over and went to see if there was anything I could do," he said.

Mr Pamer, who is known to his colleages as a bit of a joker, phoned the fire brigade as aviation fuel was pouring out from the aircraft and then continued on to his appointment.

"No-one believed me when I said I had been held up by a crashed aircraft until they heard it on radio later in the day," he said.

The aircraft had been coming into land after flying from Stapleford Airfield in west Essex.

The Department of Transport's air accident investigation branch will not be taking the matter further.

Picture, top: Through the hedge - emergency services with the Cessna 172 after it overshot the runway at Clacton airfield.

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