AN unmanned drone aircraft crashed in a lane close to West Wales Airport at Aberporth yesterday evening (Wednesday, June 14).

Firefighters and police were called to the scene at around 5pm after the pilotless plane known as a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) came down.

A spokesman for Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Cardigan, Newcastle Emlyn and Crymych were called to the incident at 4.56pm and used foam and a hose reel to clean up the resulting fuel spill.

No one was hurt in the incident amd fire crews left by 6.50pm.

The airport is used by both civil and military traffic and the Ministry of Defence use it to test their Watchkeeper drone.

An MOD spokesman said: “We are aware of an incident involving a Watchkeeper aircraft which did not result in any injuries.

“The aircraft has been secured and there is no risk to the public. An investigation is under way.”

Last year, two unmanned Watchkeeper aircraft were lost in the Irish Sea after taking off from West Wales Airport, leading officials to temporarily ground the entire fleet.