EMERGENCY services were sent to reports of a light aircraft crash near Taunton earlier this evening (Wednesday).

A man is said to have released himself from the plane by the time firefighters arrived on the scene of the incident in a field at Durston at 5.49pm.

Two fire engines from Taunton, along with the heavy rescue vehicle and a 4X4 vehicle, and an engine from Wellington were mobilised following a report from the South Western Ambulance Service.

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "On arrival at the scene crew confirmed one male had already been released from the plane, crew got to work to check for any fuel leaking.

"One light plane crash landed into private field, one person self extricated and in the care of the ambulance service.

"Crew isolated the fuel and electrics of the plane and left in the hands of the police on scene."