Residents have reacted with shock as a pilot was rushed to hospital after it crashed into woodland.

Emergency crews were called at 5.09pm after the plane crashed into the Great Wytham Woods, at Wytham, near Botley, Oxford.

The plane, a PA34 Piper Seneca owned by Kidlington-based company AirMed, had lost contact with air traffic control at Oxford Airport.

It was thought to be four miles away from the runway when it crashed into woods near Wytham.

Initial attempts to locate the downed plane were hampered by low cloud cover.

A search helicopter was scrambled from Lee-on-Solent in Hampshire, but was delayed for more than an hour.

Eventually the helicopter was able to get back in the air and located the wreckage at about 8.15pm.

But it was not until 8.30pm that a rescue team could reach the plane.

The pilot, a 52-year-old man from Chipping Norton, was found alive and conscious.

Police said the plane was making a routine flight from Plymouth to Oxford.

Glenn Salt, operations manager at AirMed, said the firm would not be identifying the man, but confirmed he was a senior pilot who had been with the company since 2003.

Mr Salt said: "We are very grateful for the fast response of the emergency services and search-and-rescue helicopter that eventually helped to pinpoint the plane."

He confirmed the pilot had received facial injuries and required a spinal board to get him to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Sophie Prew, deputy manager of the White Hart pub in Wytham, which was used as a base for the search, said she first became aware of the crash after hearing sirens.

She said: "I just assumed there was an accident on the A34 - then the fire engines came through the village.

"They said they were trying to look for a light aircraft that had crashed in the woods. It was a bit of a shock. I did not hear a crash.

"We made the firefighters about 20 cups of coffee. I was quite happy to help out."

Sally and Ian Taylor were visiting the White Hart to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.

Mr Taylor, 50, from Frenchay Road, North Oxford, said: "We came into the pub and saw lots of fire engines and we thought it was on fire.

"I think they thought they were going to have to make the pub an incident area. When they told us it was a plane crash I couldn't believe it.

Mrs Taylor, 50, added: "It's quite shocking because you don't think about planes landing here."

Police were due to remain at the scene all night helping with the clean-up of the area.

The Civil Aviation Authority will now be responsible for the investigation into the crash.