THREE people have been injured after a light aircraft crashed in a field.

The incident happened at around 12.30pm this afternoon in a field off Wyke Oliver Road, Preston.

Local farmer Brian Barnes, 69, witnessed the plane in the moments before it crashed and was the first on scene.

He said: "I was letting the goats out and checking on the chickens when I heard a plane approaching from the east.

"I thought the engine didn't sound right as it came in from Osmington, trailing a bit of smoke.

"As it advanced over Littlemoor I would say it was losing height.

"It did a quick U-turn before swooping back and crash landing into the field.

"Coming down, it hit a fence, then a pig shed and flipped over onto its back.

"I was coming from the top of the hill and as I ran down, I was on the phone to the emergency services."

The small white aircraft had three passengers inside: a man, a woman and a boy thought to be just 12 years old.

All three were taken to Dorset County Hospital by ambulance and it has been confirmed that none were seriously injured in the crash.

Firefighters said that the plane's engine cut out on its own, though fuel had spilt.

When Mr Barnes, 69, arrived at the wreckage, the boy had managed to free himself whilst the two others were still inside.

His daughter, Tracey Barnes, 44, and her daughter also rushed to the scene.

Mrs Barnes said: "I had just got home from work and was having my breakfast when I heard a bang.

"My daughter came in and said she had just seen my father running really fast down from the chicken fold."

Both helped the boy from the roof of the upturned plane and then a woman from inside.

Once free from the wreckage, the woman fainted and was put in the recovery position by Mrs Barnes, a trained first aider.

Three fire crews from Weymouth, Dorchester and Maiden Newton all rushed to the scene.

Dorset Fire and Rescure Service group manager David Graham said: "From what I can gather the occupants of the plane were out before the arrival of the ambulance service.

"We just came along to make the scene safe and to make sure that nothing was untoward.

"The engine managed to cut itself out on its own.

"We dealt with fuel on board to leave it in a safe environment."

Andrew Johnson, a local resident, was in his backyard when the plane flew overhead.

He said: "I heard it coming across and the engine was obviously missing.

"It came above us, right above the garden, and circled away.

"There was an almighty crash.

"I think the ambulance service must have already be following it because you could hear the sirens immediately.

"They got there so quickly.

"You don't see a plane crash every day."

Mrs Webb, another local resident, said: "I saw it just moments before it came down.

"It sounded like it had run out of petrol.

"We thought: that's ridiculous, it's not going to crash, it must land somewhere. It's not something you expect to see - quite a surprise in the middle of the day time."