A PILOT had a lucky escape when he was forced to make an emergency landing in North Yorkshire.

Five fire engines, police and ambulance services were on standby after the pilot in a light aircraft sent a distress signal whilst in flight over the Humberside area today.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said they were alerted by firefighters in the Humberside area to reports that the plane had a problem with its fuel supply.

The pilot managed to make a heavy landing in barley fields in Hunmanby Grange, near Sherburn, shortly after 2.30pm.

A spokesman for Fire and Rescue said they have prepared appliances for a plane crash, and had sent appliances from Scarborough, Filey, Sherburn and heavy rescue unit from Tadcaster as well as from the Bridlington area.

The spokesman added: “The guy had a lucky escape. The incident involved a light aircraft that had a fuel supply failure. Fortunately the plane and the pilot were uninjured.”