RAF Lyneham's main runway is closed to aircraft after the landing gear of a cargo plane sheered out of position.

The DC-8 cargo aircraft operated by MK Airlines was turning onto the runway on Tuesday afternoon as it prepared for take off.

As it made the sharp-turn onto the runway, the starboard landing gear snapped, leaving the aircraft unable to move under its own power. The aircraft is expected to remain on the runway until later today.

A spokesman for MK Airlines said: "This is an unfortunate incident, but no-one was injured. We now plan to get heavy lifting gear to Lyneham in order to jack up the aircraft and tow it to one side and make the necessary repairs."

The DC-8 aircraft have been operating alongside the Hercules based at Lyneham flying supplies to Cyprus and onto the Gulf. Although the main runway is blocked, operations are continuing on the shorter north-south runway. RAF Lyneham spokesman Flight Lieutenant, John Makinson-Sanders, said: "This has not been a major inconvenience to the base, we are still able to operate the Hercules from the second runway. We are now expecting engineering crews to arrive and sort out the aircraft in the next day or so."