Two men who were forced to make an emergency landing in their light aircraft in the Cairngorms are lucky to be alive, according to rescuers.

The two pilots, believed to be from the Bristol area, were picked up by a Royal Air Force helicopter after their aircraft came down in poor weather conditions.

The pilot had used a mobile telephone to report difficulties at about 0830 BST.

A rescue operation was launched involving two RAF helicopters from Lossiemouth and 10 members of the Grampian and Braemar Mountain Rescue Team.

Two helicopters joined the search operation

An RAF spokesman said: "There are not too many people who walk away from light aircraft crashes in those sort of circumstances."

He said rescue teams took the precaution of carrying the men by stretcher in case they had spinal injuries.

They were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where they were treated for minor injuries.

The two-seater Eurostar aircraft made a forced landing on the hillside in the Sloach area of the Cairngorms.

The pilots were taking part in a round Britain rally which started on Thursday and involves 20 aircraft.