Everyone has faced the prospect of sheepishly asking a neighbour if they can have their lost football back.

But one model aircraft enthusiast went one better by crashing a plane worth £200 into Don Pedder’s garden on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Mr Pedder, 79, found the downed plane – a red-and-white E-flite Apprentice S Safe – in his back garden after it crashed into his chimney on May 8.

E-flite says the Apprentice S is “the most intelligent RC airplane ever” and is tough enough to “to handle everyday flying punishment without getting bent out of shape”.

Mr Pedder, of Hersham Road, Walton, said: “I was in the house and the neighbour called to me and said there’s a plane in the garden. It was on the ground, slightly damaged, a couple of bits were in the alleyway and the wheels were clipped off. It’s in good nick otherwise.

“It could be somebody five miles away from here, it was a windy day when it came over.

“There's absolutely no damage to the chimney or house and minor damage to the model and I would just like to restore it to its owner.”