Geoff Moore and Pete Field had just taken off from Sherburn Airfield when their Europa 55 experienced difficulties.

The hand-built two-seater craft suffered an oil leak, which caused plumes of smoke to billow into the cockpit and make both men fear the plane was ablaze.

But the cool-headed pilot managed to perform a safe emergency landing in a field at Grange Farm in Monk Fryston, despite the smoke hampering his vision.

Penny McVittie, who lives at the farm, said: "It was an eventful afternoon – it's lucky no-one was hurt."

The two men were heading back to Maidenhead from Sherburn at 3.30pm on Sunday when the incident happened.

As the plane came down, Mrs McVittie said Sherburn Aeroclub members had to race to the scene on foot after their 'Rescue One' vehicle went into a ditch! Fire-fighters and police also attended the incident.

Tadcaster Fire Station watch manager Bob Hoskins this week praised the heroic actions of the pilot, saying: "He did a super job to bring down the aircraft safely, especially in a rough wheat field."

He added: "Smoke entered the cockpit, and the pilot didn't know whether or not the plane was on fire, so he performed an emergency landing.

"It turned out there was a small oil leak, which had caused smoke to blow into the cockpit. There wasn't a fire and its full system was operating."

The plane was later towed from the field by a tractor and stored overnight. Mr Moore and Mr Field were taken to York Railway Station to continue their journey home.