Pilot escapes just before crash

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The crash - an estimated 200 yards from the nearest house in Ashwell, Rutland - prompted chiefs at the nearby RAF base to defend their safety record as residents spoke of "a lucky escape".

Emergency services were called to the village, near Oakham, after the Harrier GR7A came down in a ball of flames.

The jet, from RAF Cottesmore, had been taking part in a training exercise for Operation Herrick in Afghanistan when it apparently lost power.

The aircraft's pilot called "may day" before ejecting as it nose-dived into farmland.

Ashwell resident Vic Harrison, 73, said: "I was just drying the pots and I heard the bang and saw the plane appear. I saw it come down, at an angle of about 45 degrees, in flames.

"I thought he didn't stand a chance but I looked up and saw the parachute of the pilot. I really thought he had hit the houses. It was a narrow miss - it must have been just 400 yards from our house. It has been an exceptionally lucky escape."

The pilot was airlifted to Nottingham's Queens Medical Centre with injuries described by the Ministry of Defence as "not life-threatening". The Ministry of Defence confirmed that no casualties were reported on the ground.

In a statement, Group Captain Ken McCann, Joint Force Harrier, Force Commander, said: "It is too early to say what might have caused the incident, however a Board of Inquiry is being convened."

Asked about the crash's proximity to residential properties, he added: "We have had a very good safety record up until this juncture. We do everything we can to safeguard local residents on the ground. We are pleased it went well in this case."