Police at reservoir after light aircraft crash

A small aircraft has crashed into a reservoir, police said.

Essex Police was called shortly after 14:00 GMT on Sunday to reports of the aircraft entering the water at Hanningfield Reservoir, near Chelmsford.

On Monday, the force said its officers remained on the scene of a serious incident. It has not released any information about casualties. Flowers have been left on a fence at the reservoir.

Ch Supt Waheed Khan said: "We are still in the early stages of our investigation and are working closely with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) to establish what has happened."

He urged anyone with information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage to get in touch.

The public has been asked to avoid the area.

An AAIB spokesperson said: "An accident at Hanningford Reservoir involving an aircraft has been notified to the AAIB.

"An investigation has been launched, and a multidisciplinary team of inspectors have deployed to the accident site."

A spokesperson for the Essex Wildlife Trust, which manages a nature reserve at the reservoir, confirmed its visitor centre would remain closed on Monday.

Hanningfield Reservoir, which is between Chelmsford, Billericay and Wickford, is owned and operated by Essex and Suffolk Water. It has a surface area of 870 acres (352 hectares).

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