THESE are the first pictures from the scene of a plane crash in Sussex.

An investigation has been launched after the crash in East Sussex this morning.

Emergency services including firefighters from a number of stations were sent to the scene near Heathfield after the plane came down just after 11am.

It had caught fire after crashing and the pilot is believed to have died instantly.

The Argus:

Sussex Police, whose officers attended the crash site alongside firefighters and ambulance crews, said his next-of-kin have been advised.

The incident has now been passed on to the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) for investigation, they added.

>> Follow live updates from the Sussex plane crash

Earlier, an AAIB spokesman said: "The AAIB has sent a team to investigate an accident involving a light aircraft which crashed this morning near Heathfield, East Sussex."

Sussex Police said: "The pilot of a light aircraft sadly died when his plane crashed near Heathfield on Tuesday morning.

The Argus:

"Emergency services were called to the scene off Herrings Lane at 11.01am where the aircraft had caught fire after crashing.

"Unfortunately, the pilot is believed to have died instantly. His next-of-kin have been advised."