THE partner of the pilot of the aircraft that crashed on the Isle of Wight last weekend has spoken of her heartbreak.

Martin Rhodes, 48, from Kingston Avenue, Sneyd Green, took off from a Staffordshire airfield on August 5 heading for Brittany in France.

The light aircraft, a Piper Cherokee, came down in a field on the Isle of Wright shortly after taking off from the airport on the Island.

Martin's partner, Kerry Raftery, said: "Martin loved to fly and spent as much time at the controls of his planes as possible. He worked incredibly hard to build up the car repair business he set up when he was just 19 years old and had even built two aeroplanes in his spare time.

"We have two sons aged ten and 23 years old and it is difficult to describe the emotions we are all feeling. Our family and friends are helping us to be strong but underneath we are all heartbroken."

Hampshire police are leading the enquiry with the Air Accidents Investigation.