A pilot's attempt to become the first person to fly a model Bleriot plane from France to England, having already made the crossing in a full-size version of the plane, ended in deep water on Tuesday (July 13) - literally!

Dutch aviator Henk van Hoorn first hit the headlines earlier this year when he flew a full-size Bleriot replica plane across the Channel (pictured right).

This week he hoped to achieve the same feat - flying a half-size model controlled from a helicopter.

The take-off was delayed because of bad weather on Tuesday morning, but the plane eventually left the ground at 1pm BST.

Supporters had a welcome reception laid on at the Walletts Court Hotel at Westcliffe, and were waiting at the proposed landing site in a field behind the hotel when news came through that the plane had crashed.

Audio: Henk van Hoorn after the doomed model airplane flight

It is understood that it suffered engine failure, and plunged into the sea after 20 minutes of flying, and around a third of the way across the Channel.

Mr Van Hoorn, who headed back to France in the helicopter, was said to be disappointed by the outcome of the attempt. He was unable to retrieve the wreckage of the model, which he hopes will be washed up on the French coast.

The model was half the size of the original Bleriot aircraft, at 15ft wide by 13ft long.