A man aged in his 70s has died after a light aircraft crashed near a Grade II listed building in Essex on Monday morning.
The incident took place near the listed Stanley Hall in Pebmarsh, near Halstead at around 9.20am.
The man was found dead at the scene by first responders, Essex Police said in an update. He was the sole occupant of the aircraft.
Officers, alongside the ambulance service and Essex Fire and Rescue Service first responded to calls shortly before 9.30am.
“Officers continue to work alongside investigators with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch to establish the circumstances around this incident,” Essex Police said.
“A road closure will remain in place in the area overnight while these enquiries continue.”
A local resident told the BBC that she heard a bang and saw a large plume of smoke as the aircraft crashed. It had been travelling in a south-westerly direction.
Essex Police said the force’s investigation was ongoing into the incident.
A spokeswoman for Essex County Fire and Rescue said: "We were called to an incident on Pebmarsh Road in Halstead this morning at 9.22am. On arrival firefighters reported that a light aircraft was on fire.
"Firefighters from Colchester, Halstead and Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service worked to quickly extinguish the fire. The incident was handed over to the police."
Anyone with information or CCTV is being asked to call Essex Police on 101 quoting the incident number 270 of August 21.
