While many may be quick to criticise the press, a Norfolk newspaper has come in for praise from actor Martin Shaw after it reported on the crash landing of his vintage plane.

The Eastern Daily Press carried a report after learning that a plane had gone down in a field, and was later pleased to receive a letter of thanks from Martin for its “accurate and sympathetic” coverage.

The actor, who made his name as Ray Doyle in The Professionals, had looked on in horror as the vintage PT17 Stearman biplane crashed and burst into flames, forcing its pilot and passenger to make a dramatic escape.

But he later applauded the handling of the story by the Archant-owned newspaper and journalist Mark Nicholls.

Martin told the paper: “I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to Mark Nicholls and the editorial staff for their reporting of the crash which destroyed my plane.

“I’m very quick to criticise the press when they get it wrong, but your report was accurate and sympathetic, qualities rare in today’s media climate.”

Mark said: “The call came into the office about a plane going down and it was a classic case myself and photographer Keiron Tovell getting mobile quickly. We went to the airfield to see for ourselves and there was Martin in the clubhouse.

“The story was clear, accurate and fair but it was good of Martin to come forward with his praise as he is not always on good terms with the press.”

And EDP editor Peter Franzen added: “Martin’s letter says a lot about the qualities of the EDP which we should continue to cherish because it sets us apart from most of the rest of the media; and is so easily thrown away by carelessness and a lack of regard for our marketplace.”

After the plane crashed, experienced pilot Phil Stead freed himself from the wreckage then bravely released his passenger as leaking aviation fuel ignited the second world war training plane at Old Buckenham airfield, near Attleborough.

The pilot had managed to bring the aircraft down when it developed problems seconds after leaving the runway on a routine flight.

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