Aircraft makes emergency landing

A light aircraft with four people on board has had to make an emergency landing at an airport in Essex.

The aircraft flying from Panshanger in the London area, to Ostend, Belgium was diverted to Southend Airport where emergency services were on the scene.

It landed with its undercarriage down and no-one was injured.

The airport was closed for an hour to remove the aircraft and to check the runway for debris or damage, airport managing director Alastair Welch said.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been informed.