A pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in a cow field after his plane lost its propeller at 2,000ft.

John Smith and co-pilot James Green were flying to Shoreham Airport from Lincoln yesterday when their plane experienced difficulties.

As they passed over the River Thames their Stampe biplane's engine started to misfire.

Mr Smith, 65, of Wimbledon, South London, and Mr Green, 64, a qualified aerobatic pilot and instructor from Hampden Park, Eastbourne, feared the worst.

Mr Smith said: "It became apparent we were not going to make it back to Shoreham as we were losing height.

"There were a couple of bangs from the engine and then the propeller parted company with us.

"We were flying at about 2,000ft at the time.

"We don't think the propeller hit anything as we were flying over open countryside.

"We looked for a field to land in and were able to bring the plane down in one piece. We had no idea where we were and there was nobody about, so James went off to look for help."

The red and white biplane, worth £40,000, came down at Beaks Farm, Isfield, near Lewes.

Farmer Chris Holland was milking his cows, which had previously been in the field, when the plane landed.

He said: "I only realised what had happened when my wife came to get me. "I am glad they landed safely and everything turned out all right."

Fire crews from Barcombe and Uckfield joined the Sussex Police helicopter in searching for the plane after receiving several calls from the public.

The pilots had been to Lincoln to take part in an aerobatic competition on Saturday which was cancelled because of bad weather.

Mr Green said: "I would like to pay tribute to the way in which John handled the situation. It was a textbook forced landing. Neither of us was worried about it while it was actually happening.

"We are trained to concentrate on the situation and to deal with it.

"It is only afterwards that you step back and think what could have happened and just how lucky you have been."

The plane was being towed to a sheltered corner of the field last night to await collection and transportation back to Shoreham today.

The propeller was found in a field near Newick.