A man has died and another is seriously injured following a plane crash in a small Kent village.

The man, aged 51, died when the Tiger Moth aircraft came down in a field in Postling, an area of outstanding natural beauty near Hythe.

His next of kin have been informed.

A second man, in his 40s, was airlifted to a London hospital with serious injuries.

Emergency services - including police, ambulance crews and the air ambulance - were called at 2pm yesterday to reports the light aircraft had crashed, near Pent Farm Airfield.

As many as five fire engines were sent to the scene along with a foam unit, water unit and other specialist vehicles.

Teams were still at the scene until late last night.

Today, South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed one man has died and another is seriously injured.

A statement from spokesman Rich Airey said: "I can confirm that SECAmb was called to a field near Pilgrims Way, Postling, Kent, at approximately 2pm yesterday to reports a light aircraft had crashed.

"Ambulance crews attended the scene alongside police and fire colleagues and were joined at the scene by the air ambulance service.

"A man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene and another man was treated at the scene for serious injuries before being airlifted to Kings College Hospital in London."

A police spokeswoman added: "At 2.05pm on Sunday July 21 Kent Police was notified that a light aircraft had crashed in a field in Postling near Hythe.

"Officers attended the scene with partner agencies including the South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

"A 51-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene and his next of kin have been informed.

"Another man in his 40s was taken to hospital with serious injuries."

A report is being prepared for the coroner.

An investigation has now been launched by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), who sent a team to the crash site.

They remain there today, along with officers from Kent Police.

An Air Accidents Investigation Branch spokesman said: "Yesterday, the AAIB sent a team to investigate an accident involving a Tiger Moth aircraft near Hythe, Kent.

"There were two people on board.

"Our investigators will remain on site today to continue with the initial part of our investigation."

Read more: All the latest news from Hythe

Read more: All the latest news from Kent