A PILOT escaped serious injury when he was forced to make an emergency landing in a field.

The 60-year-old landed the eight-seater aircraft near Limpet Wood around two miles outside Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, at about 4pm yesterday, police said.

It is believed the plane developed an engine fault and lost power.

The pilot had climbed out of the plane by the time firefighters arrived on the scene.

He had suffered minor injuries and was checked over by an ambulance crew.

Five fire engines went to the scene after reports that an aircraft had come down.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service group manager Mike Dickson said: "The crews first in attendance arrived to find the pilot was standing clear of the aircraft, which he had managed to safely land within a field."avios