POLICE, ambulance and fire crews spent an hour and a half searching for a microlite aircraft that a motorist reported seeing going down near the M4.

The drama unfolded following the phone call, from a woman on the motorway, at about 8pm on Monday.

However, at 9.30pm the emergency services gave up, having failed to locate the aircraft, or any smoke.

"We had a report of an aircraft coming down," said Inspector Ken Forey, at the police control room in Devizes.

"We believe what happened was that the motorist saw a small aircraft, and there was smoke from a small fire on the ground behind it.

"From the motorist's point of view, it would have looked like the plane was coming down."

The call was received by ambulance control in Chippenham, who sent out paramedics, and contacted the police and fire brigade.

Insp Forey said three police cars from Chippenham went out, positioning themselves at exits either side of the M4, at Leigh Delemere services.

"At first the woman thought it was coming straight down on to the motorway," added Insp Forey.

He said the force helicopter was scrambled from Devizes to circle above the M4, on the lookout.

At the same time, two fire engines from Chippenham were sent out.

After receiving more information, the fire engines were told to search the roads around Burton, Castle Combe, Grittleton and Hullavington for a sight of the aircraft.

In the meantime the police cars stayed at Leigh Delemere.

Insp Forey said the police called off the search shortly after 9pm.