A SMALL plane which crashed in the English Channel yesterday has prompted a search for debris.

The plane, thought to be a Piper PA-28 Cherokee, went missing around midday on Saturday, April 2, after leaving Wellesbourne in Warwickshire to Le Touquet, in Northern France.

The French coastguard said the plane is the subject of a “worrying disappearance” and confirmed it had crashed in British waters. It was said to be carrying two people.

It asked boats travelling in the Channel to look out for debris. The search resumed at first light around 6.30am.

Two French aircraft and a boat were searching yesterday, while a UK aircraft was also attempting to find the whereabouts of the plane.

A spokesman for the French emergency services told ITV: "It crashed into British waters for an unknown reason.

"British Coastguard launched an operation supported by French aircraft and boats including the Abeille-Languedoc (Languedoc Bee) tug, which has been chartered by the French Navy".

Weather conditions were sunny and mild yesterday, with winds not reaching above seven miles per hour.