A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Herefordshire boy is still dreaming of a career as an air-line pilot despite witnessing an horrific helicopter crash.

Marden Primary School pupil Thomas Neal was playing in tennis courts with his cousin when he saw the chopper fall from the sky.

And although he immediately ran to tell his father and grandfather, the three engineers on board all perished in last week's crash.

Thomas's father Graham Neal said his son acted beyond his years in the difficult circumstances.

"We were in a hotel near Andover to celebrate my father becoming a magistrate when all of a sudden Thomas came running in to inform us of the crash," said the proud dad.

Power

"From where Thomas was, it would not have been obvious to see the helicopter was in trouble.

"I drove across the fields with my father to the crash site, but the flames were too strong and there was little we could do to help.

When asked how he knew the aircraft was in difficulty, Thomas said: "It was making a chucking noise, like it was losing power. And the way it went down behind the trees was not normal so I ran and told my dad."

And despite the shock of seeing smoke bellow across the Hampshire countryside, Tom holds no fears of returning to the Shobdon skies: "I really like flying with my dad and have done it since I was five. When I finish school I would like to be a pilot."