No-one on the ground was badly injured, but two people were treated for shock.

It is thought the plane got into difficulties just after take-off from Biggin Hill. The airport said the plane was a commercial flight en-route to France.

It had just taken off when the pilot made an emergency call and asked for permission to land again, airport chairman Andrew Walters said. "Unfortunately it crashed before reaching the airport," he said.

London Fire Brigade sent eight fire engines to the scene while the London Ambulance Service sent four ambulances, four fast response cars, four duty managers and an area response team.

The wreckage of a light aircraft smoulders on a street in Farnborough, north Kent March 30, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)