A Hercules from RAF Lyneham has been forced to make an emergency landing in Hungary.

The plane had taken off from Romania destined for its Wiltshire base when part of its tailplane shifted and the crew lost control.

The emergency landing yesterday comes just weeks after another Hercules was destroyed after a hard landing in Afghanistan.

RAF Lyneham said the Hungary landing was a precautionary measure and that the aircraft had requested clearance to land at Budapest Airport.

The Hercules is expected to undergo minor repairs and then fly back to the UK.

James Gray, the Tory MP for North Wiltshire, said: "I'm concerned. We need to make sure these planes are entirely safe."

The officer in charge of RAF Lyneham recently said the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were stretching the resources of its Hercules fleet.

Gp Cpt Paul Atherton said it was not possible to use the whole fleet because only those with the correct defences could be sent to Afghanistan or Iraq.