A bi-plane crashed into a tree during an attempt to get it started.

The incident happened at Goodwood Airfield, near Chichester, this afternoon.

It is thought crew members were turning the plane’s propeller but it took off before the pilot could jump back into the cockpit.

Witnesses watched as the plane, which had a full tank of fuel, took off and smashed into trees that border the airfield.

No one was injured in the incident and the plane did not ignite.

However witnesses said it looked as though the blue and white plane had been written off.

A spokesman from the airfield declined to comment.