RESIDENTS of a quiet country area have complained about a man's helicopter flights.

Helicopter pilot Andrew Taylor had a miraculous escape after crashing into a neighbour's garden at Whitley, near Grange Moor.

Lucky Mr Taylor escaped from the wreckage without any major injuries after losing control of the small private helicopter just moments after taking off.

He crashed to the ground off Falhouse Lane, near Liley Lane.

His wife, Gillian, said yesterday that he was "fine" after treatment at Dewsbury District Hospital.

But she did not want to say any more about the accident, which will be the investigated by West Yorkshire Police and the Civil Aviation Authority.

The two-man helicopter ended up on its side, 15 feet from the front door of the house, called Meadowside, after crashing at about 2.40pm on Monday.

The accident follows disputes with his neighbours, who have been complaining about Mr Taylor's flying.

One man, who did not want to be named, said: "This has been an accident waiting to happen.

"We have complained to Kirklees Council about him, because he takes off and then flies very low over our house and next door. I've been waiting for something like this to happen.

"This could have been much worse. It could have destroyed a house or, worse, landed on the road."

"It is a bus route and he could have hit a bus full of children. It is not safe to have helicopters taking off here."

Another neighbour said: "He takes off and then goes only about 20ft or 30ft above our house."

Residents said they had complained to Kirklees in July about the use of the helicopter, but had been told it was outside the council's jurisdiction.