A MAN had a lucky escape this afternoon after his plane crashed into a tree.

The small light aircraft came down at about 12.10pm today into a tree at a property in Herrings Lane, Cross In Hand, north of Heathfield.

The pilot was the only person on board and he was unhurt.

A spokeswoman for East Sussex Fire And Rescue, which sent a rescue team to the scene, said the plane landed 15m high within the tree.

Rope rescue teams from Battle and Bexhill were dispatched to the scene and the man was released and transferred into the care of an ambulance crew.

A spokeswoman for South East Coast Ambulance added: "We attended with a number of vehicles but no one had to go to hospital.

"We were advised the patient had no obvious injuries. He is extremely lucky."

The Argus understands there is a small airfield nearby, where the plane may have been trying to land.