AN amateur flyer was recovering last night after a lucky escape when his microlight aircraft hit a power cable and crashed in a field.

The 36-year-old man, who was said to be an experienced pilot, suffered only minor injuries in the incident.

He was cut from the wreckage of the Mainair Blade microlight after the accident at Rufforth Airfield, near York, on Tuesday afternoon.

The Rotherham man, a member of the York Flying Club, is believed to have hit the cable as he came in to land at the airfield. He was taken to hospital with spinal and chest injuries.

John Teasdale, director of York Microlight Centre, said: "He was very lucky to escape with only minor injuries. It appears that the vehicle struck the cable and then came to the ground.

"He is an experienced pilot. This is the first incident of this type at this airfield. It could have been much worse.