THE pilot of a light aircraft is in hospital with a suspected back injury after his plane crashed in a field near West Tisted on Tuesday.

The man, who has not been named, managed to free himself from the cockpit by the time fire and ambulance crews arrived on the scene shortly after 2.30pm.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service mobilised two crews, from Alresford and Petersfield, and a special vehicle from Alton, while South Central Ambulance Service dispatched a road ambulance, a hazardous area response team, and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

The teams tended to the injured pilot on the ground before he was airlifted to the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.

The pilot was the only person on board the aircraft at the time of the crash.